Range: Texas - The Texas Map Turtle (Graptemys versa) is found in the Colorado River System. It is also found in most of the streams, creeks and lakes that are connected to this river.
Description: Graptemys versa is smallest of the map turtles. This is basically a brown turtle with three yellow or orange circles on the underside of the head (the chin or mandible). Like Cagle's Map Turtle, Graptemys caglei, it is a smaller species than the other Graptemys species. Males are around 3.5 inches and females get up to 6.75 inches. G. caglei is a narrow-head species, although it does not belong to the sawback group. It does not have as real high carapacial keels like the sawbacks or the pulchra group.
Habitat: This turtle lives on the Edwards Plateau in relatively fast moving, muddy rivers in central Texas. It is fond of brush piles, like all map turtles, and spends much of the day basking. Females like to bask in deeper water than males and juveniles. The Texas Graptemys rivers are very different from the typical southeastern map turtle rivers. They are more muddy and tend to have swift currents.
Legal Status: Regulated in Texas - must have a "Special Hunting" License to collect them and a Commercial non-game permit to sell them or possess more than 25 native non-game animals.
Other Information: G. versa is common in the Colorado River as well as in many of the ponds and lakes near the river. This turtle is found with the the following species: Pseudemys texana (Texas Cooter), Trachemys scripta elegans, (Red-Eared Sliders), Sternotherus odoratus (Common Musk {Stinkpot}), Sternotherus carinatus (Razor-backed Musk Turtle), Apalone spinifera emoryi (Texas Spiny Softshell), Chelydra serpentina (Common Snapping Turtle).
Previous Taxonomy: Graptemys pseudogeographica versa Stejneger, 1925
Observations: This river is very different from the other "typical" Gulf Coast rivers. It has a relatively high elevation and almost desert appearance. When you are here, you definitely feel like you are "West". The Colorado is very brown and silty. There is very little visibility in the water. G. versa is perfectly suited for this environment with its mostly brown color. One of the best features about this species and the Colorado River are the creeks that run into the river. These clear creeks are beautiful with their fast flow, waterfalls, rocky bottoms and many deep pools that hold G. versa and other turtles.
The Colorado River "This river is brown and silty, but very scenic."
