Cagle's map turtle

Cagle's map turtle (Graptemys caglei) is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is endemic to Texas, where it is native to the Guadalupe, San Antonio, and San Marcos Rivers.^[4]

Cagle's map turtle
Graptemys caglei, male hatchling
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Vulnerable  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Emydidae
Genus:	Graptemys
Species:	G. caglei
Binomial name
Graptemys caglei Haynes & McKown, 1974[3]
Geographic range of Graptemys caglei

Etymology

The specific name, caglei, is in honor of American herpetologist Dr. Fred Ray Cagle (1915–1968).^[5]

Description

Cagle's map turtle has intricate patterns on the carapace and plastron, as well as serrated edges on the posterior of the carapace, as is typical of all map turtles. It is smaller than most map turtles, and very sexually dimorphic, with males reaching only 4 in (10 cm) straight carapace length, while females can exceed 7 in (18 cm) in straight carapace length.^[4]

Diet

Adult females of G. caglei feed mainly on molluscs, but males and juveniles feed mainly on aquatic insects.^[1]

Reproduction

Like all turtles, G. caglei is oviparous.^[6] A sexually mature female may lay up to three clutches of eggs in a year.^[1] Clutch size is small, only one to six eggs.^[1]

References

1. van Dijk, P.P. (2016) [errata version of 2011 assessment]. "Graptemys caglei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T9497A97417639. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013.RLTS.T9497A12996153.en. Retrieved 27 October 2022.{{cite iucn}}: |date= / |doi= mismatch (help)
2. "Graptemys caglei". NatureServe Explorer An online encyclopedia of life. 7.1. NatureServe. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
3. Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 186. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895.
4. "Cagle's Map Turtle". Graptemys.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
5. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Graptemys caglei, p. 46).
6. Species Graptemys caglei at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading

• Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + 48 plates. ISBN 0-395-19979-4 (hardback), ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Graptemys caglei, p. 58 + Figure 9 on p. 56 + Map 21).
• Haynes, David; McKown, Ronald R. (1974). "A New Species of Map Turtle (Genus Graptemys) from the Guadalupe River System in Texas". Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany 18 (4): 143–152. ("Graptemys caglei new species").
• Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp. ISBN 978-0-544-12997-9. (Graptemys caglei, p. 202-203, Figure 92 + Figure 82 on p. 178).
• Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-47009-1 (hardcover), ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Graptemys caglei, pp. 50–51).