Conservation Biology of Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises: A Compilation Project of Emydidaethe IUCN/SSC — Tortoise Graptemys and Freshwater versa Turtle Specialist Group 093.1 A.G.J. Rhodin, P.C.H. Pritchard, P.P. van Dijk, R.A. Saumure, K.A. Buhlmann, J.B. Iverson, and R.A. Mittermeier, Eds. Chelonian Research Monographs (ISSN 1088-7105) No. 5, doi:10.3854/crm.5.093.versa.v1.2016 © 2016 by Chelonian Research Foundation • Published 3 March 2016 Graptemys versa Stejneger 1925 – Texas Map Turtle PETER V. LINDEMAN1, JAMES N. STUART2, AND FLAVIUS C. KILLEBREW3 1Department of Biology and Health Services, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, Pennsylvania 16444 USA [
[email protected]]; 2New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Conservation Services Division, P.O. Box 25112, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 USA [
[email protected]]; 3Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas 78412 USA [
[email protected]] SUMMARY. – The Texas Map Turtle, Graptemys versa (Family Emydidae), is a small freshwater turtle (carapace length to 204 mm in females, 116 mm in males) that is endemic to the Colorado River basin of Texas. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size and large females are adapted to a highly molluscivorous diet. The species occurs mainly in lotic habitats but also inhabits reservoirs. Commercial and incidental collection of this turtle is possibly the most significant threat in some locations, although fragmentation and modification of its riverine habitat by dams are also of concern. It receives some protection under CITES and state regulations for commercial collection.