Terrapene ornata

Also known as Western Box Turtle, Yellow-Legged Box Turtle

Ornate box turtles roam North America's central grasslands and arid prairies, relying on a hinged lower shell to pull completely inside their protective armor when threatened. Active mostly during cool morning hours and after heavy rainstorms, they spend afternoons buried in loose soil or abandoned animal burrows to escape heat. Their distinct dark carapaces feature bright yellow, radiating lines that offer surprising camouflage among prairie grasses.