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How do the habitats of alligator snapping turtles and map turtles differ?

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Illustrations of ten representative chelonians, including spiny softshell turtle, Galapagos giant tortoise, green turtle, alligator snapping turtle, Blanding's turtle, common map turtle, eastern box turtle, eastern painted turtle, spotted turtle, and eastern mud turtle, each labeled with its common and scientific name. A scale bar at the bottom shows size comparison. — turtle Turtles (order Testudines).

The habitats of alligator snapping turtles and map turtles differ primarily based on their preference for water flow and depth.

Alligator Snapping Turtles: These turtles typically inhabit deep, slow-moving streams and backwaters, as well as lakes and swamps, where they often remain sedentary on the bottom to ambush prey.12
Map Turtles: In contrast, map turtles (Graptemys) select the faster-flowing waters within those same stream systems.2

While both groups are found in similar geographic regions, such as the southeastern United States, they occupy distinct ecological niches defined by these water conditions.2