These turtles may be trapped, or taken by hand, hook and line, or turtle hook. The possesion limit 100 pounds for live and 50 pounds for dressed turtles. This is a medium to large sized Iowa turtle that grows 6 to 10 inches carapace length. The shell is dark brown, olive, or black. This turtle gets its name from the light yellow lines that form a reticulated or map like pattern on the back, but this pattern is usually obscure on adults.
Old females have dark blotches on the back.
There is a low vertebral keel on the back that becomes less prominent with age. The marginals on the rear of the carapace are serrated. The plastron is dull yellow with some black or dark pigment. The head and limbs are black or dark olive. There are light lines on the head and limbs that also form a map like pattern.