Facts on the Eating Habits of Map Turtles

Most Map Turtles are Omnivorous

• Most map turtle species consume a varied, omnivorous diet, although the types of food that make up their diet can vary depending on species and location. Map turtle diets are commonly made up of aquatic plant life, fish, worms, snails and crawfish, among other things. Some species, such as the northern map turtle, prefer a diet that is almost entirely carnivorous and only eat plants when they are swallowed mistakenly with their preferred food.

Male and Female Diets are Often Different

• The diets of map turtle species such as the common map turtle differs between males and females. This is due to the fact that females are larger than males. In the case of the common map turtle, female shells can grow to more than 10 inches in length while male shells only reach lengths of less than 7 inches. As a result, female heads and jaws are larger, allowing them to eat larger animals such as mollusks and crawfish. Male diets mostly consist of smaller animals such as larvae and insects. However, some other foods such as snails, water plants and carrion are eaten by both genders.

Adaptations Help to Crush and Remove Shells from Food

• Some map turtle species have large, wide jaws that are capable of crushing the shells of mollusks and snails. Some are strong enough to open the shells of prey such as clams, particularly in female map turtles. Once a shell has been crushed, some species of map turtle use their claws to remove the shell fragments from their mouths before eating the animal inside.

Map Turtles Eat in Water

• Map turtles are strong swimmers and spend a great deal of time in the water, including when they are foraging and feeding. Some species, such as the northern map turtle, are able to remain underwater for more than five minutes while hunting underwater animals to feed from. These turtles also consume their food while they are underwater.

Map Turtles can Hibernate

• Map turtles that inhabit colder areas may hibernate for months at a time over the winter. Female map turtles are less active and more likely to enter a state of true hibernation than males. As map turtles do not eat while they are hibernating, there is often a high level of competition for food when they emerge from hibernation when the weather becomes warmer in spring.