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Definition of map turtle
map turtle
Plural:map turtles
map turtle Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American Any of several species of freshwater aquatic turtles in the genus Graptemys, native to the rivers and lakes of North America, characterized by a prominent keel along the back and intricate, map-like markings on their shells.
Example
"While kayaking along the Mississippi River, we saw a map turtle quickly slip off a submerged log and into the water."
Word Origin & Etymology
The common name originates from the intricate, web-like yellow markings on the turtle's carapace, which resemble the contour lines or roads on a topographic map.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Map turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/map turtle