[5] These lines are usually shades of yellow, tan, or orange, and are surrounded by dark borders, with the rest of the carapace being olive or greyish brown.

The head, neck, limbs and tail are dark green with thin yellow stripes, and an oval or triangular spot is located behind each eye.

Also, a small European population occurs in the Czech Republic, which was formed from escaped or released turtles and their descendants.

Northern map turtles spend the winter under water and do not surface to breathe, especially when ice cover makes this impossible.

Adults rest on the bottom or wedged underneath rocks or logs and often hibernate communally with other northern map turtles where they may remain somewhat active throughout the entirety of the winter.

Northern map turtles are also quite shy and difficult to approach; they usually slip into the water and hide at the first hint of danger.

Adult females have wide heads, strong jaws and broad alveolar crushing surfaces in their mouths which they use to feed on molluscs, their primary prey, as well as insects and crayfish.

In places where invasive molluscs such as zebra mussels and Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) are abundant, they may become the most important food of female northern map turtles.

[11] The effects of human interference by way boating and recreation on shorelines are likely impeding the map turtle from re-establishing itself in natural areas.

[12] Thus, populations of Northern map turtles have probably declined across their entire natural range but they remain widespread and may be abundant in some locations.

Collecting, keeping, and selling of northern map turtles is prohibited by Animals in Captivity regulations in nine states.

[13] Like most jurisdictions of the United States, Canada lists northern map turtles as a species of special concern.