Identification

The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is a member of the Box Turtle species. They are known for a high, domelike shell and a hinged plastron that allows total shell closure. The carapace can be of variable coloration, but is normally found brownish or black and is accompanied by a yellowish or orangish radiating pattern of lines, spots or blotches. Skin coloration, like that of the shell, is variable, but is usually brown with some yellow, orange, or white spots or streaks. The color of the shell and skin of an Eastern Box Turtle differs with age; younger turtles of the type are often more vibrantly colored than the older. Furthermore, males normally possess red eyes (irises) as females display brown eyes more often than not. Eastern Box Turtles feature a horny beak, chubby limbs, and their feet are webbed only at the base.

Distribution and location

The Eastern Box Turtle is found mainly in the eastern half of the United States, as is implied by its name. They are populated as far north as southern Maine and the northwest of the Michigan Lower Peninsula, south to southern Florida and west to eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Eastern Box Turtle is considered uncommon to rare in the Great Lakes region; however, populations can be locally common in areas not bisected by heavily traveled roads. In the Midwest, they are a species of Special Interest in Ohio, and of Special Concern in Michigan. They are not found in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa or Missouri.(Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management).

Diet

The eating habits of eastern box turtles vary greatly due to individual taste, temperature, lighting, and their surrounding environment. As is different from warm-blooded animals, their metabolism doesn't force their eating, rather they can just lessen their activity level, retreat into their shells and halt their food intake until better conditions arise.

There are a varieties of foods which are universally accepted by Eastern Box Turtles, which include earthworms, snails, grubs, beetles, caterpillars, grasses, fallen fruit, berries, mushrooms and flowers. Many times, they will eat an item of food, especially in captivity, just because it looks and smells edible, such as hamburger and eggs. (Diet and Feeding Your Box Turtle).