Reptile · GBIF taxon 2443173
Terrapene carolina
terrapene carolinaAlso known as Eastern Box Turtle, Land Turtle
Common box turtles are highly terrestrial reptiles famous for their hinged lower shell, which allows them to pull their head and limbs inside and seal themselves completely against predators. They are slow-moving omnivores that spend their days foraging through forest floors and damp meadows for fallen fruits, fungi, and small invertebrates. These long-lived reptiles form strong attachments to their home ranges, navigating familiar territory with remarkable spatial memory.
TerrestrialLong-LivedOmnivorous
- diet
- Omnivorous, feeding on earthworms, insects, wild berries, mushrooms, and leafy vegetation
- family
- Emydidae
- threats
- Habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and illegal collection for the pet trade
- life Span
- 50 to over 100 years
VU
Can deliver a painful bite if handled; observe quietly without picking them up.
Vulnerable to local extinction due to slow reproductive rates, high road mortality, and illegal collection for the pet trade.
Never collect wild individuals, and avoid disturbing nesting females during the summer months.- Road Crossings: If safely assisting one across a road, always move it in the direction it was already heading.
- Observation Distance: Watch from a few steps back to see them forage naturally without retreating into their shells.
- Leave in Place: Never remove them from the wild, as they have a strong homing instinct and will struggle to survive elsewhere.