THE REPTILES OF OHIO 263 



Psendemys scripta elegans (Wied) 

 Mississippi Valley Terrapin 



(Page 151 : maps 36 and 74; plate 20, fig. 1) 



Dr. Archie F. Carr, Jr., one of the principal students of the genus Pseu- 

 demys, advises me that Ohio specim.ens of this group should now he desig- 

 nated as Pseudemys <icrtpta elcgmis. Recent studies have shown that the name 

 troost'ii, formerly applied to all the populations inhabiting the Mississippi and 

 certain adjacent drainage systems, should be restricted to the turtles of a rela- 

 tivelv small area in the higher stream region of eastern Tennessee. The distri- 

 bution of elegcins, as understood at present, is approximated upon the inset 

 map on page 152 — except as follows: (1) The dark area should be extended 

 eastward to the area of intergradation with troostii in central Tcnnesie; and to 

 western Georgia and Florida where elegaris intergrades with Pseudemys scripta 

 scripta; (2) the range should be extended somewhat farther southwest in 

 Texas where intergradation occurs between elegans and the subspecies gaigeae; 

 and (3) Nebraska should be omitted — there apparently are no valid records 

 from that state (Hudson, 1942, 99). 



No data are available upon the present status of the colonies previously 

 reported from Pickaway and Ross counties. Nor are there any new records 

 that mav be considered as authentic. A few juveniles have been reported 

 from scattered localities, but all are suspected of having been captives that 

 were liberated by well-meaning owners. This, of course, is the turtle that is 

 vended in vast numbers by pet stores and five-and-tens. It is possible that the 

 species might succeed in establishing itself in one or more localities in Ohio if 

 specimens were turned loose in places where suitable food, hibernating sites, 

 etc. are available. This apparently .has happened recently in Michigan, for 

 Edgren (1948) has presented evidence to show that troostii ( ^tlegans) has 

 become resident in Muskegon and Oceana counties (of that state), obviously 

 as the result of introduction by human beings. (These counties border on 

 Lake Michigan about half way up the Lower Peninsula.) Unless groups of 

 adults are found or breeding populations can be demonstrated, howevf, it is 

 best to discount or disregard new Ohio "records." 



Cagle (1950) has published an excellent summary of his studies on the 

 life history of elegans (under the name troostii) . 



Amyda mutica (Le Sueur) 

 Brown Soft-Shelled Turtle 



(Page 154; maps 37 and 75; plate 21, figs. I and 2) 



There are only four new records and reports for this turtle, but two of 

 them are from far up the Muskingum Valley, and they thus extend the range 

 considerably northward in Ohio. The species is now knov.'n to occur farther 

 east than had been generally realized, and the dark area on the inset map 

 should be extended to include central western Pennsylvania. There is a speci- 

 men in the Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ 1911) from th? Alle- 



