Box turtle

Florida Box Turtle ( Terrapene carolina bauri )

The Terrapins ( Terrapene ) are a genus of the subordination of the Berger- neck turtles. The animals belonging to the family Emydidae ( New World Pond Turtles ) and live partly amphibious.

Appearance

Box turtles have a domed carapace ( carapace ) with a more or less educated middle keel. With the help of a cross joint in plastron ( plastron ) they are able to " anterior lobe " and fold up " posterior lobe " of the belly tank. Previously, she must of course move the head and limbs. Thus, the openings of the tank are sealed and the turtle is protected from danger. In newly hatched juveniles, however, this mechanism does not work.

Behavior

Box turtles go in the morning and in the evening in search of food. Spend the rest of the time the animals dormant, thereby totally or partially buried in the sand. Although box turtles are land animals, they can swim well and go into the water. They are usually - due to the stored fat in the carapace - not able to dive deeply. Terrapene are individualists, each has its own characteristic habits and habitats ( habitats). Some, for example, hold almost exclusively in the water, while others never see. Terrapins hold depending on the type, resp. Subspecies a winter rest.

Occurrence

Terrapene are common in many parts of the United States. They come out in the hill country, from the north- eastern North America over most of the United States, between the western tributaries of the Mississippi, and in some areas in central and southern Mexico before.

Natural Habitat

Box turtles prefer fertile grasslands, sandy, semi-arid soils with shrub growth, near bodies of water. Also along the edges of forests and sparse forests, meadows, wet meadows, marshes, and along streams and ditches are to be found.

Food

Terrapene are generally omnivorous. It is said that hatchlings are easy to get used to mixed food ( salad, fruit, mice, lice, worms, snails, etc. ), destroy more carnal food in age, however. Plant -based foods, including mushrooms, etc. It is particularly to be noted here is that the animals could consume to take poison mushrooms without harm.

System

The genus Terrapene is divided into four types, and the individual species nor subspecies have:

  • Common Box Turtle ( Terrapene carolina ) Eastern Box Turtle ( Terrapene carolina carolina )
  • Florida Box Turtle ( Terrapene carolina bauri )
  • Gulf Coast box turtle ( Terrapene carolina major)
  • Mexican Box Turtle ( Terrapene carolina mexicana )
  • Three-toed box turtle ( Terrapene carolina triunguis )
  • Yucatan Box Turtle ( Terrapene carolina yucatana )
  • Coahuila Box Turtle ( Terrapene coahuila )
  • Drop Box Turtle ( Terrapene nelsoni ) Southern Drop Box Turtle ( Terrapene nelsoni nelsoni )
  • Northern Drop Box Turtle ( Terrapene nelsoni klauberi )
  • Ornate Box Turtle ( Terrapene ornata ) Eastern Ornate Box Turtle ( Terrapene ornata ornata )
  • Western Ornate Box Turtle ( Terrapene ornata luteola )
Blasius Merrem
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