The fake map turtle[2] or sawback turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) is a turtle from the family of terrapins The fake map turtle is green to green-brown in colour, and has a drawing of orange to yellow rings on the horn plates at the edge of the shell, especially the juveniles. The shield is fairly round and flat and has sharp serrated edges that give the impression of a leaf. The skin has a very pronounced, yellow stripe-like map drawing. This drawing also fades over the years and the skin becomes darker to black, behind each eye there is a yellow cross stripe that remains visible even in older animals. Other spots on the head are missing, often in contrast to similar species, typically the yellow ring around the pupil. A young saw's back has a distinctive, saw-like crest on the top of the shield with backward-pointing, tooth-like deformations. The teeth are coloured black while the rest of the shield is green and therefore stand out clearly. In older animals the teeth flatten by molt, after a few years only vague, pointy bumps can be seen with a black dot. The maximum shield length is about 25 centimeters, males, however, remain considerably smaller and remain around 15 centimeters.
Photographed in Ouwehands Dierenpark
We are Loek and Karin Lobel, and our passion is animal photography, both in the wild and in zoos.
We are loek en Karin Lobel and we love to take pictures in the wild but also in the Zoo...
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