The northern map turtle is named after the pattern adorning their shells that appears to move across the surface as lines on a map. This detailing is usually yellow or orange against a darker grey or green background. Even though this is a feature that distinguishes them from other species, the markings fade as a turtle ages.

The rest of the turtle’s body is green with yellow stripes across its limbs and head. Males of the species tend to be smaller than the females, only about 4-6 inches in length compared to the females being 7-10 inches. Females weigh anywhere from 1-5 pounds while less than 1 pound.

The northern map turtle is typically found in larger bodies of water, but have been known to frequent small ponds. They live anywhere from Georgia to Ontario, mostly sticking west of the Appalachian mountain range, with the exception of the Great Lakes area. Interestingly, there is a small population of the Czech Republic after they were released and then procreated in the area. 

Wherever they may inhabit, they make sure to mabe an abundance of logs and rocks on which they can sunbathe. Other than that, they are fully aquatic species.

Female northern map turtles tend to have larger jaws than the males and have the ability to eat larger prey, such as mollusks, crayfish, and larger snails while the males mainly eat insects and much smaller snails than their female counterparts. Both sexes have also been known to eat dead and decomposing fish.

What little plant matter they do consume is mostly accidentally ingested as they swim from one location to another. No matter what they choose to feast on, the northern map turtle only eats under the water, never on land.

Female northern map turtles lay eggs in the spring months, the amount ranging from 6 to 20 eggs. The eggs hatch after approximately 2 months, and the sexes of the newborn turtles are determined by the temperature of the surrounding climate. Hotter temperatures of about 85-95° produces mostly females and at around 77° the eggs that are hatched reveal mainly male northern map turtles.

Northern map turtles are diurnal creatures, meaning that they are only active during the day and resting throughout the night excluding disturbances. When they are unsettled, they simply slip back into the water giving no indication they would rather fight instead of giving into their instincts of flight.

The northern map turtle bears the nickname of “sawback” due to their unique keel, which is simply a ridge-like structure that transverses the length of the turtle’s carapace that is shaped similarly to the teeth of a saw.