[4] The specific name, caglei, is in honor of American herpetologist Dr. Fred Ray Cagle (1915–1968).

[5] Cagle's map turtle has intricate patterns on the carapace and plastron, as well as serrated edges on the posterior of the carapace, as is typical of all map turtles.

It is smaller than most map turtles, and very sexually dimorphic, with males reaching only 4 in (10 cm) straight carapace length, while females can exceed 7 in (18 cm) in straight carapace length.

[4] Adult females of G. caglei feed mainly on molluscs, but males and juveniles feed mainly on aquatic insects.

[6] A sexually mature female may lay up to three clutches of eggs in a year.