Common box turtle
A species of Box turtles, Also known as Eastern box turtle Scientific name : Terrapene carolina Genus : Box turtles
Common box turtle, A species of Box turtles
Also known as:
Eastern box turtle
Scientific name: Terrapene carolina
Genus: Box turtles
Content
Description General Info
Photo By michaelgold , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
The common box turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a species of box turtle with six existing subspecies. It is found throughout the eastern United States and Mexico. The box turtle has a distinctive hinged lowered shell (the box) that allows it to completely enclose itself. Its upper jaw is long and curved.
General Info
Lifespan
20-40 years
Diet
Common box turtle primarily thrives on a diet of invertebrates, with a particular fondness for worms, spiders, and insects. Its diet also includes a variety of plant matter and fruits, reflecting the species's omnivorous nature.
Appearance
Common box turtle is a small to medium-sized reptile with a dome-shaped, hard bony shell for a body, and a slightly hooked beak. Its skin, like the shell, is rough-textured, sporting varying shades of brown, often with dark spots or streaks. This distinctive shell is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to completely enclose itself. There are no significant appearance differences due to age, gender, or subspecies.
Behavior
Common box turtle exhibits solitary, diurnal habits, primarily active during early mornings and late afternoons. It adopts a semi-aquatic lifestyle, splitting time between terrestrial and aquatic environments. Notably, it employs passive foraging techniques for omnivorous feeding and exercises defensive maneuvers such as shell retraction when threatened. It exhibits no significant territorial behavior.
Population
Decreasing
Photo By michaelgold , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Testudines Family
Terrapins Genus
Box turtles Species
Common box turtle