Graptemys barbouri                                              Photo Jonathan Mays ©

Largest of the map turtles, Barbour’s map turtle is found only in the tributaries of the Apalachicola River. Shell length varies widely between males and females. Female shells can be up to 11 inches long, while males shells can reach 6 inches.

Barbour’s map turtles have a gray oval shell with two to four spikes along the center of the upper shell. On female shells the spikes can be worn down to knobs. These turtles feed primarily on mollusks and insects, and nest in sandy areas at the edge of the river. Females can lay several clutches of 7-10 eggs each year.

The Barbour’s map turtle is currently protected as a State Species of Special Concern and is proposed to be listed as State Threatened. It is illegal to take these species from the wild or keep them as pets.

top of page | back to turtles