Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
The undersides or plastrons of false map turtles are cream to yellowish in color. The juveniles have an intricate pattern, whereas in the adults this pattem is absent. They mate in the spring and lay a clutch of 6-13 eggs.
These turtles are extremely rare in North Dakota, and they are very wary. The best opportunity to observe these turtles is during the first two weeks in June as they come out of the water in the afternoon to lay their eggs in the sand. Keep in mind that these will be adult female turtles often 12-16 inches long.
False map turtles eat aquatic vegetation, insects, worms, crustaceans, minnows, and mollusks.