The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is a subspecies within a group of hinge-shelled turtles, normally called box turtles. T. c. carolina is native to an eastern part of the United States. Occasionally, it is referred to as the Common Box Turtle to distinguish it from the other five subspecies of eastern box turtles.The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) is one of two species of box turtles found in the United States. It is the only "land turtle" found in North Carolina, where it is the state reptile. Box turtles are extremely long lived, slow to mature, and have relatively few offspring per year. These characteristics, along with a propensity to get hit by cars, make the box turtle a species particularly susceptible to human-induced problems.
Ten Facts about Eastern Box Turtle
- The eastern box turtle is found mainly in the eastern United States, as is implied by its name.
- Eastern box turtles prefer deciduous or mixed forested regions, with a moderately moist forest floor that has good drainage.
- There are a variety of foods which are universally accepted by eastern box turtles, which include earthworms, snails, slugs, grubs, beetles, caterpillars, grasses, fallen fruit, berries, mushrooms, flowers, bread, duck weed, and carrion.
- the eastern box turtles generally range in size from 6 to 7" (15 - 18 cm) with a maximum of 8" (20 cm).
- Females can lay up to three clutches of from two to ten eggs.
- The eggs typically incubate for 75 to 85 days at 75% to 85% humidity.
- Eggs incubated at 71 ° F (22 ° C) produce males. Eggs incubated at 79 ° F (26 ° C) produce a mixed ratio of males and females and eggs incubated at 88 ° F (31 ° C) produce females.
- Predators includes snakes, birds, foxes, Badgers, raccoons.
- In the wild, box turtles are known to live over 80 years.
- This shell is connected to the body through its fused rib cage which makes the shell permanently attached and not removable.
