Specimen from texas
|
Family: Emydidae
Eastern Box Turtle Status: Uncertain Description: A small to medium sized terrestrial turtle that grow up to 20 cm CL. It has a highly domed carapace and there are two “hinges” across the plastron that allow the box turtle to close its shell when the head and limbs are withdrawn. Coloring and pattern are variable but T. c. triungis, the species that has been found in the Marianas (Leberer 2003) generally has a tan to olive carapace with an obscured pattern. The skin of the head neck and limbs is similarly colored and there are often conspicuous yellow to red spots on the head, neck and forelimbs. Mature males can have extensive red coloration on the head. The digits are un-webbed and there are only three toes on the hindfoot. Biology: Like most other box turtles the eastern box turtle is predominantly terrestrial. It feeds on a wide variety of organic material including carrion, insects, worms, small vertebrates and vegetation and fruit. Distribution: The eastern box turtle is native to the eastern United States and south into Mexico. A few specimens have been captured on Guam and there are rumors of a persistent population behind Price Elementary School in Mangilao. |