Map Turtles
Map turtles are primarily riverine and each species is typically confined to one or just a few river drainages. Florida is home to two of the fourteen map turtle species found in the southeastern United States: Barbour’s map turtle (Gratemys barbouri) and Escambia map turtle (Graptemys ernsti). Both map turtle species are only found in Florida’s panhandle: Barbour's map turtles are found in the Apalachicola, Chipola, Choctawhatchee and Ocklockonee rivers while Escambia map turtles are limited to the Escambia and Yellow Rivers. Barbour's map turtles are a State-designated Threatened species and both species are federally listed due to similarity of appearance to the Pearl River map turtle (G. pearlensis).
![Female Escambia map turtle by Pierson Hill](/media/31967/escambiafemalephill.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=458&height=329&rnd=133349266870000000&format=jpg&quality=80)
Escambia map turtle
Current Research
Escambia Map Turtle Status Assessment
Past Research
Barbour's Map Turtle Status Assessment