Eastern Box Turtle

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina)
Other Names Three-toed Box Turtle Description The carapace of the Eastern Box Turtle is noticeably longer than wide, domed with a narrow keel lengthwise down the center, ...

Eastern Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina
Photo by J. Willson
Description: Eastern box turtles are small to medium sized turtles, attaining a maximum length of 8 inches (20 cm) and possessing a highly domed carapace (top of shell).

Eastern Box Turtle
(Terrapene carolina carolina)
DESCRIPTION: 4-8 1/2" (10-21.6 cm). Terrestrial. Movable plastron hinge allows lower shell to close tightly against carapace. Carapace high-domed and keeled; variable in color and pattern.

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina)
The Eastern Box Turtle is named for its ability to close its shell tight like a box. Its plastron is hinged so it can draw its under
shell up tight against its carapace (top shell).

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)
Box Turtles are common throughout North Carolina. Males have bright orange to red eyes. This poor turtle was covered with over 25 large mosquitoes that seemed to be trying to pierce its shell.

Eastern Box Turtle
Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina carolina
Size: 5-8 inches (12.7-20 cm) in length
PA Status: Species of special concern ...

Eastern Box Turtle
Relatives in same Genus
Desert Box Turtle (T. ornata luteola) ...

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina)
No photo of the Eastern Box Turtle available.
The Eastern Box Turtle is from the order Testudines. All turtles are testudines (or Chelonia). There are more than 280 different species belonging to this order.

Eastern Box Turtle Species Profile
An indoor enclosure can be made from almost any kind of large open-top aquarium or wooden box.

Eastern box turtle
Terrapene carolina
The box turtle has a hinge on its lower shell that allows it to close its shell almost completely. This occurs in addition to pulling its head, legs and tail into the shell if it is confronted by danger.

Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina carolina
Florida Box Turtle Terrapene carolina bauri
Gulf coast box turtle Terrapene carolina major
Three-toed Box Turtle Terrapene carolina triunguis
Yucatan box turtle Terrapene carolina yucatana ...

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina ssp.)
Description
Habitats
Habits and Life History
Prey and Hunting Techniques ...

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)
Identification: The high, domed carapace is dark with a radiating pattern of yellow or orange. Plastron with flexible hinge, allowing complete shell closure. Head and legs with yellow markings.

Eastern Box Turtle - Terrapene carolina carolina
Description: 4 - 7 1/16" (10-18 cm). Variable colors on carapace and plastron. Carapace may have ray-like designs and range in color from yellow to orange to olive to brown.

Eastern Box Turtle Nest Site Selection and Hatchling Behavior
Derek Bozzell
The Effect of Auditory Call Playback on the Efficiency of Visual Encounter Surveys, and the Detectability and Catch Probability of Anurans ...

Eastern box turtles prefer deciduous or mixed forested regions, with a moderately moist forest floor that has good drainage. They can be also found in open grasslands, or pastures.

EASTERN BOX TURTLE
Terra pene carolina carolina
The high-domed carapace of the box turtle may carry a wide variety of markings. Usually it is dark brown or black, accented with some combination of yellow streaks or blotches.

Eastern Box Turtles are long-lived creatures and have been documented to exceed sixty years of age. Very old specimens may reach ages of over one hundred.
BEHAVIOR ...

Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina ssp. Common to locally uncommon or rare statewide. While they have declined over past two decades, box turtles still are frequently encountered (especially after rains) in, or near, forested areas.

Eastern box turtles do not appear to be territorial because they are commonly found grouped together under cover or in close proximity to each other. Eastern box turtles occupy the same home range year after year.

The Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina, is found in extreme north Florida. Its shell color varies. It usually has four toes on each hind foot.

The Common Eastern Box Turtle is found from Maine to Georgia and westward to Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee. The Three Toed Box Turtle is found from Texas and Alabama northward to Missouri.

Terrapene carolina
Eastern Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina triunguis
Three-toed Box Turtle ...

eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)
eastern cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)
eastern fence lizard (Sceloporous undulatus)
eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
eastern glass lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) ...

There two races of box turtles, but only the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) occurs in Canada. Although it is the most terrestrial Canadian turtle, the Eastern box turtle often soaks in mud or water for a few hours a day.

Five of these species are sea turtles and one (the Eastern Box Turtle) is primarily terrestrial. The rest are semi-aquatic, inhabiting North Carolina's ponds, wetlands, and other water bodies.

This turtle is only 3 to 4 inches in length and has a double-hinged plastron, similar to the eastern box turtle. The sexes can be distinguished by the longer, thicker tails of males.

The Eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina, is a woodland species found in the eastern and central United States. The Western species, T. ornata, is found in the grasslands of the central United States and northern Mexico.

Another box turtle species, the Terrapene Carolina, with four subspecies, occurs in the eastern United States. One of the eastern box turtles has appeared on a postage stamp, according to authority Michael J. Connor.

See also: Box Turtle, Shell, Reptile, Turtle, Snapping Turtle