Texas map turtle
Texas cusp turtle ( Graptemys versa)
The Texas cusp turtle ( Graptemys versa) is domiciled in the State of Texas Art from the kind of Map turtles, which belongs to the family of New World pond turtles.
Appearance
The Texas cusp turtle is the smallest of all the Map turtles. The females have a carapace length of 12.5 to 20 inches. The males are also grown only about half the size and have a carapace length of 6.5 to 10 centimeters. The ground color of the carapace is olive with a fine, orange - yellow line coloring on each horn plate. The Dorsalkiel is most striking in young animals, but is also visible in adult individuals and has a dark yellow color. The plastron is cream colored and has a few paint marks on except for the dark lines around the edges. The head is narrow and the muzzle is tapered. The skin of the head, neck, legs and tail has a yellow and orange - colored line pattern. Males have long tails and older females can be identified by their wider heads. Directly behind the eye there is a showy, usually J-shaped color marking, which is one of the distinctive recognition of this turtle.
Distribution and habitat
The Texas cusp turtle is limited to their area of distribution to a relatively small region in the U.S. state of Texas. It occurs only on the Edwards Plateau in central Texas and is there in the Colorado River and its tributaries. They prefer shallow streams with moderate flow movement and a rich vegetation. The bottom of these watercourses consists of either sand, clay or limestone.
Way of life
Like many other aquatic turtles can be observed while sunbathing often. They are very shy and dive at the slightest hint of danger again into the water. They are excellent swimmers and eat mussels and plants.
The mating season of this Höckerschildkrötenart is not secure. Presumably they mate in early spring and late autumn. The females dig their Nistgruben prefer to sandy areas near the rivers. The average clutch consists of six eggs. The slack time of the young turtles is dependent on the ambient temperature. In general, the young hatch after 65 to 85 days.
The inventory figures all Map turtles are declining. This also applies to the Texas hump turtle. The causes of stock decline are varied, ranging from pollution to increasing habitat destruction.