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
—observations
—countries
—peak records
VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Earthworms
- Snails
- Fallen berries
Predators
- Raccoons
- Coyotes
- Domestic dogs
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, road mortality, and illegal collection for the pet trade
HabitatsDeciduous forests, damp grasslands, open woodlands, and suburban gardens
Life span50 to over 100 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyEmydidae
- GenusTerrapene
- Speciesterrapene carolina
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Can deliver a painful bite if handled; observe quietly without picking them up.
- What to notice
- Look for a high-domed shell with yellow, orange, or olive patterns on a dark brown background, and a hinged bottom shell.
- Support conservation
- Never collect wild individuals, and avoid disturbing nesting females during the summer months.
Responsible observation
- 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.
Co-occurring Species hug_78 / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Ecological Counterpart Judy Gallagher / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative The original uploader was Dawson at English Wikipedia. / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Family Member (c) Laurent Lebois ©, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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