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Indian/Sri Lankan Star Tortoise (G. elegans)
Burmese Star Tortoise
(G. platynota)
Other Starred Tortoises
Angulate Tortoise
(C. angulata)
Popular Tortoises
Box Turtles
Misc. Pages
Have Box Turtle photos, info, or links to share? Email me or post a message on the bb.
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Box Turtles
This photo totally captures the charming, curious expression Box Turtles
so often have (ornate). Photo by bobby (cc).
Box Turtles are NOT tortoises (members of the family Testudinidae), but they are often included with tortoises because their care is quite similar.
American Box Turtles belong to the genus Terrapene. All species of Terrapene are found in North America and Mexico.
There are four species in the genus Terrapene (T.), several subspecies for Terrapene carolina (T.c.), and two subspecies for Terrapene ornata (T.o.).
- T. carolina - Common or Eastern Box Turtle
- T.c. bauri - Florida Box Turtle (Taylor 1894)
- T.c. carolina - Eastern Box Turtle (Linnaeus 1758)
- T.c. majo - Gulf Coast Box Turtle (Agassiz 1857)
- T.c. triunguis- Three-Toed Box Turtle (Agassiz 1857)
- T.c. mexicana - Mexican Box Turtle (Gray 1849)
- T.c. yucatana - Yucatan Box Turtle (Boulenger 1895)
- T. ornata - Ornate or Western Box Turtle
- T.o. ornata - Ornate Box Turtle (Agassiz 1857)
- T.o. luteola - Desert Box Turtle (Smith & Ramsey 1952)
- T. nelsoni - Spotted Box Turtle (Stejneger 1925)
- T. coahuila - Coahuilan or Aquatic Box Turtle (Schmidt & Owens 1944)
Asian Box Turtles belong to the genus Cuora, and they have different housing requirements. The genus Cuora contains many species and they are restricted to tropical Asia. Most Asian Box Turtles are more aquatic than the American ones.
Never take Box Turtles from the wild always acquire a captive-bred one! Better yet, adopt one or more of the many Box Turtles needing new homes. See the Petfinder site or the turtle rescue page.
Also, check your state's laws regarding owning, breeding and/or selling Box Turtles (see links below *).
| Box Turtle quick facts (US) |
- 4"-7" in length
- have hinged plastrons, can encase themselves completely inside their shells
- charming little turtles
- smart with distinct personalities
- hardy and long-lived if well cared for
- omnivorous, eat both plant and animal foods
- eat vegetables, greens, fruits, occasional dog food
- like live foods, e.g. mealworms and crickets
- like to dig, climb, and escape
- can easily dig under fences and climb over low walls
- like to soak, need constant access to a large water dish
- thrive outdoors
- hibernate
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| Box Turtle books |
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Complete North American Box Turtle
- by Carl J. Franklin, David C. Killpack
- ECO/Serpents Tale NHBD, Jul 2009
- ISBN-10: 0978897986
- ISBN-13: 978-0978897987
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Box Turtles - A complete guide to Terrapene and Cuora
- by Tess Cook
- TFH, Apr 2008
- ISBN-10: 0793828953
- ISBN-13: 978-0793828951
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North American Box Turtles: A Natural History
- by C. Kenneth Dodd
- University of Oklahoma Press, Jul 2002
- ISBN-10: 0806135018
- ISBN-13: 978-0806135014
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| Box Turtle links |
- Be - The Box Turtle
- Beautiful Eastern Box Turtles - photos
- Box Turtle - Care and conservation, by Tess Cook
- Captive Born Box Turtles - by Patrick the 'Patman'
- CTTC - California Turtle & Tortoise Club, Care of box turtles
- GCTTS - Gulf Coast Turtle and Tortoise Society, classification of US Box Turtles in TX
- Herp Care Collection - Box Turtles, by Melissa Caplan
- Indiana Turtle Care - subspecies with photos
- Indiana Turtle Care - Box Turtles are great climbers, scroll to the bottom of page for pics
- McBiology - Box Turtle Observation Project
- My New Turtle - Ornate and 3-Toed caresheets
- North American Box Turtles - by Joe Heinen
- North American Box Turtles - links to state laws *
- SDTTS - San Diego Turtle & Tortoise Society, Box Turtle caresheet, pdf file
- Tortoise Trust - Avoiding problems with Box Turtles, by A.C. Highfield
- Turtle Puddle - Asian Box Turtles
- Turtle Rescue of Long Island - What to do if you find a Box Turtle
- Turtle Town - step by step photos of building a beautiful outdoor area
- Turtle Trails - court yard garden turtle pen
- Turtle Trails - Box Turtle photos
- Washington Post - Folks stick their necks out for box turtles, but ICC may be the end of the road, by Katherine Shaver, May 2010
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| Box Turtle forums |
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