Size: Fairly large, carapace can reach a length of 30 cm. And females average 17 cm. to 27 cm. and males average 10 cm to 16 cm.

Appearance: Carapace flattened with distinct dorsal keel, serrate posterior edge, and is colored olive-green with yellow or light green radiating streaks; head broad and is also green and yellow streaked and has elongate yellow spots posterior to the eye; jaws smooth.

Range: Lake George and Lake Chaplain West through the Great Lakes region to Wisconsin; present in nearly all of the Mississippi River drainage basin; and also the Susquehanna and Delaware River basins.

Habitat: Prefers slow moving quiet water, especially larger rivers, with aquatic vegetation with soft bottom and large exposed logs for basking.

Habits: Many will congregate to ideal conditions; eat mostly animal matter (prefers crushed mollusks and crustaceans; diurnal and is especially active in early morning and late evening; map turtle is slow to move into hibernation and is active generally from April to November in most of its range.