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Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica)

An aquatic turtle endemic to Montreal although not very frequent. Loves to warm up on stones reaching out of the water surface.

Best Locations and Seasons for Sightings

I saw this turtle species only once in Rapids Park Lachine at a spot which is usually occupied by Painted Turtles.

"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from my park visit journals.

Identification and Similar Species

Tricky to identify as this species looks very similar to the Painted Turtle. The lack of red color on skin and along the border of the carapace is a hint. The turtle shows clearly viewable light markings on skin.

All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz

Last updated: 2025-05-03