Sadly, many in captivity will not survive that long. Habitats: Found mostly in the Eastern United States, Box Turtles occur as far north as Michigan and Maine, South to Florida, and as far West as Texas and Kansas. The eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina, is experiencing population declines across much of its range; in Michigan, box turtles are listed as a species of special concern. They reach sexual maturity only after four or five (or possibly twenty!) Box turtles are long lived animals that are relatively slow in reproducing. Some baby Painted Turtles hatch in the fall. During the hot periods turtles may submerge in mud for days at a time. Each print is numbered in an edition, hand-stamped with a custom Wild Michigan … The eastern box turtle lives in the eastern United States, from eastern Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to the Atlantic Ocean. They have a high domed carapace. They occur as far north as southern Maine and the southern and eastern portions of the Michigan Upper Peninsula, south to southern Florida and west to eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Eastern Box Turtle. Though an uncommon find, it ranges throughout Michigan’s lower peninsula. The shells of turtles are covered with an … 2. Eastern box turtles are found mainly in the eastern United States. When a box turtle first hatches from its egg it is a mere 1.25 inches long. It spends its life in small patches of open woodlands, sometimes bordering open fields or wetland. In the northern parts of their range, they are rarely found above 1,000 feet in elevation, while they may be found up to 6,000 feet in the southern parts of their range. Take and possession of Michigan’s native reptiles and amphibians is highly regulated. It spends its life in small patches of open woodlands, sometimes bordering open fields… Habitat and Global Range. On the plastron (the flat part of the shell or belly), there may be dark areas, especially on the margins of the scutes (the horny plates). Eastern box turtles have a sharp, horned beak, stout limbs, and their feet are webbed only at the base. The Eastern Box Turtle are the most common turtle found in these states. Fine art paper is certified archival, 310gsm, 100% cotton fiber, acid and lignin free. Due to its popularity as a household pet, Terrapene carolina is sometimes found far outside its normal geographic range. It is one of four box turtle species native to the United States. The eastern box turtle carapace can be of variable coloration, but is normally found brown or black and is accompanied by a yellow or orange radiating pattern of lines and spots . They occur as far north as southern Maine and the southern and eastern portions of the Michigan Upper Peninsula, south to southern Florida and west to eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The male turtles also have more colorful markings on the forelegs, and the claws on the hind feed are shorter and more curved than those on the females. Skin coloration, like that of the shell, is variable, but is mostly brown or black with some yellow, orange, red, or white spots or streaks. We can find Easterns all the way from southern Florida in the south to southern Main and the southern and eastern parts of the Michigan Upper Peninsula in the north. Our goal is to document their distribution and help measure changes or … They are found all the way from southern Florida in the south to southern Maine and the southern and eastern parts of the Michigan Upper Peninsula in the north. The carapace of eastern box turtles measures 4 to 8 1/2 inches long. Furthermore, males normally possess very orange or red eyes while females usually have brown or light orange eyes. Eastern box turtles are considered uncommon to rare in the Great Lakes region. The eastern box turtle is found mainly in the eastern United States, as is implied by its name. The eastern box turtle is a familiar and easily recognized inhabitant of the Nature Trail ecosystem. Hatchlings are primarily carnivorous. Prescribed fire is used as a management tool in many areas where eastern box turtles are found. Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina carolina Size: 4.6 – 7.8,” rarely exceeding 6.3” (adult carapace length) Status: Uncommon to rare and steadily declining throughout Great Lakes region. Lieberman 1994). Eastern box turtles have a high domed carapace (shell) that is usually a darker brown with bright yellow, orange and/or red markings. They also may be found in adjacent thickets, old fields, pastures, or vegetated dunes. Required fields are marked *. The most widespread subspecies is simply known as the eastern box turtle (T. carolina carolina). Eastern box turtles are amazingly versatile reptiles and inhabit a wide variety of habitats. Over time, the damaged area falls off, revealing the new keratin formed beneath it. Regular price The primary causes for their decline are urbanization, building roads, and collection as pets. Massachusetts and Connecticut consider the eastern box turtle a species of special concern, and in Maine eastern box turtles are listed as endangered (Hunter et al. Eastern Box Turtles are terrestrial animals, which means they live on land. Males tend to have longer, thicker tails than the females… Granular tissue slowly forms and keratin slowly grows underneath the damaged area to replace damaged and missing scutes. Sale. The plastron has a hinge that allows the turtle to “box” itself i… These turtle aren't that big in size only reaching 8 Inches in length and having a highly domed carapace. This turtle ranges along the entire east coast of the United States from Massachusetts to northern Florida, as far west as the Mississippi River, and north to the Great Lakes. This Eastern Box Turtle watercolor illustration is professionally printed on a textured matte paper that gives you an authentic, original feel. The Eastern Box Turtle is the only truely terrestrial turtle of Michigan. Eastern Box Turtle, photo by Mark Swanson. The Herping Michigan Blog page on the Eastern Box Turtle says (in part) that:. The scutes on a turtle's carapace and plastron are equivalent to the scales on other reptiles. 3. They are a "species of special concern" in Michigan. Of all Michigan turtles, the Eastern Box Turtle is by far the most charismatic. Small- to medium-sized turtle with a domed shell ranging from 4.5 to 6 inches long. Eastern box turtles are very long-lived. The bottom of the shell (plastron) can be yellow, brown or black, or a combination. Female box turtles will nest in the summer, laying three to eight eggs. The Eastern Box Turtle has a low metabolic rate, allowing this species to survive when there is a scarcity of food. There are other subspecies with different ranges, such as the western box turtle which is found further west in the US. The Spotted Turtle and the Wood Turtle are also considered "species of special concern" in Michigan. Measuring about 4-6 inches in length, but occasionally reach over 7 inches. However, some states—including Michigan, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut—list the animal as a species of special concern, and Maine lists the turtle as endangered. The eastern box turtle usually stays small in size. Male turtles tend to have longer, thicker tails than the females. Kingdom – Animalia Phylum – Chordata Subphylum – Vertebrata Class – Reptilia Order – Testudines Family – Emydidae Genus – Terrapene Species – T. carolina Subspecies – T. c. carolina Trinomial name – Terrapene carolina carolina, Your email address will not be published. Males also have more often red irises, but not always. In recent years, however, their populations have started to diminish, resulting in far fewer encounters. The eastern box turtle is found mainly in the eastern United States, as is implied by its name. The Eastern box turtle's shell has the greatest variety and brightest colored patterns of all North American box turtles. In cold climates they hibernate through the winter in loose soil at a depth up to two feet. Habitat: Permanent bodies of water, especially quiet, mud-bottomed ponds, lames, and slow streams with dense aquatic vegetation. Although not aquatic, box turtles will often venture into shallow water. It is found from Southern Maine to Georgia and westward to Michigan, Illinois, and Tennessee. They occur as far north as southern Maine and the southern and eastern portions of the Michigan Upper Peninsula, south to southern Florida and west to eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. It’s been a while since I posted a turtle pic, and while I have a couple more Michigan turtles left to profile, this photo caught my eye today. years of life, produce relatively small numbers of eggs, and have a high hatchling mortality rate. Although this subspecies is highly variable in coloration, it is often more brightly colored than the other subspecies and almost always has four claws on the hind feet. As Michigan’s only true terrestrial turtle, the Eastern box turtle might often be mistaken for a small tortoise. The Eastern box turtle is usually about four to six inches in length. Eastern Box Turtle Geographic Distribution. It is one of four box turtles native to the United States. Occasionally they are found soaking in puddles or streams. Turtles have 5 toes on each front leg, and normally 4 toes on each hind leg, although not typically some individuals may possess 3 toes on each hind leg. Your email address will not be published. Eastern box turtle The first of the four is the eastern box turtle, one of the three species of special concern. Eastern Box Turtle Study. However, the Spotted Turtle lacks a mid-dorsal keel. The Eastern Box Turtle is found in the Eastern United States. Usually they can be found in forests or meadows where there is moisture. We can find Easterns all the way from southern Florida in the south to southern Main and the southern and eastern parts of the Michigan … 1999). Commonly they reach 30 to 40 years of age. Historically quite common and widespread in woodlands of eastern Lake Michigan … Found rarely above 1,000 feet in elevation, preferring low land habitats where water collects. They are omnivorous so they eat animals and plants. But as they grow their diet shifts more towards plants. In addition, the plastron is slightly concave in males and flatter in females, while the carapace tends to be more flattened in males. Eastern Snapping Turtle. InfoTurtle.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Nest predation, habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and illegal collection are the catalysts for the decline of the Eastern Box Turtle. It is one of four box turtle species native to the United States. This Eastern Box Turtle watercolor illustration is professionally printed on a textured matte paper that gives you an authentic, original feel. Eastern box turtles range from southern Maine south to the Florida Keys and west to Michigan, Illinois and Tennessee. Box turtles are some of the only turtles which can completely close their shell, protecting them from  predators. Like many other turtles they also will stay in the same area, as long as they have water, food, and other turtles to mate with. Of all Michigan turtles, the Eastern Box Turtle is by far the most charismatic. They are found all the way from southern Florida in the south to southern Main and the southern and eastern parts of the Michigan Upper Peninsula in the north. In the wild, eastern box turtles are opportunistic omnivores and will feed on a variety of animal and vegetable matter. Of all Michigan turtles, the Eastern Box Turtle is by far the most charismatic. The range of the Eastern Box Turtle extends from southern Maine to Michigan, and south to Florida and eastern Texas. The eastern box turtle is considered uncommon to rare in the Great Lakes The Herping Michigan Blog page on the Eastern Box Turtle says (in part) that:. The eating habits of eastern box turtles vary greatly due to individual taste, temperature, lighting, and their surrounding environment. Eastern Box Turtle, photo by Mark Swanson. The Eastern Box Turtle are typical found in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, and many more middle and eastern states. 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 even carrion. Eastern Box Turtle Identification: 1. The eastern box turtle lives in the eastern United States, from eastern Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to the Atlantic Ocean. Fine art paper is certified archival, 310gsm, 100% cotton fiber, acid and lignin free. There are four toes on the back feet. They are found all the way from southern Florida in the south to southern Main and the southern and eastern parts of the Michigan Upper Peninsula in the north. The Michigan Herp Atlas began in 2004 in an effort to collect observational data about Michigan's amphibians and reptiles. That means that they will eat almost anything that they can fit in their mouth. Each print is numbered in an edition, hand-stamped with a custom Wild Michigan seal, and signed by artist Dani Knoph. Although these turtles can live in a variety of different habitats, they are most abundant and healthy in moist forested areas with plenty of underbrush. See the current Fishing Guide for these important rules and a list of protected species. Turtle is terrestrial. Interestingly, box turtles are even able to eat many mushrooms that are toxic to humans. In some isolated populations, males may have blue patches on their cheeks, throat, and front legs. Frames feature a glass facing, plywood backing and a sawtooth hanger. Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) were once a frequent and beloved sight in Maryland's woods. Some reports even claim that eastern box turtles can reach up to 100 years. Most noteworthy, the Eastern box turtle lives in the eastern United States, from eastern Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to the Atlantic Ocean. As Michigan’s only true terrestrial turtle, the Eastern box turtle might often be mistaken for a small tortoise. The skin is brown with spots or splashes of yellow or red coloration, especially in males. The eastern box turtle is found mainly in the eastern United States, as is implied by its name. They are protected by law. Unlike warm-blooded animals, their metabolism doesn’t drive their appetite, instead, they can just lessen their activity level, retreat into their shells and stop their food intake until better conditions arise. Distribution. Eastern box turtles do not travel far, usually living within an area less than 200 meters in diameter. The top of the shell (carapace) is variable in color and pattern but is typically marked with yellow to orange streaks and blotches on a black/brown/gray background. They occur as far north as southern Maine and the southern and eastern portions of the Michigan Upper Peninsula, south to southern Florida and west to eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Distribution. Based on these differences, four subspecies of eastern box turtles have been designated. As Michigan's only true terrestrial turtle, the Eastern box turtle might often be mistaken for a small tortoise. Unlike water turtles box turtle scutes continue to grow throughout the turtle’s life and develop growth rings. In the northern parts of their range, they are rarely found above 1,000 feet in elevation, while they may be found up to 6,000 feet in the southern parts of their range. It typically occurs in forested habitats with sandy soils near a source of water such as a stream, pond, lake, marsh or swamp. They are often found along wetland edges, damp forests and wooded swamps or dry and grassy fields. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Eastern Box Turtle Temperature and Light Moreover, since 20 July 2004, no Eastern Box Turtles can be taken from the wild in Indiana. Eastern Box Turtle hatchlings could be confused with Spotted Turtle hatchlings, because both have spots on each scute. The females have brown eyes. When injured or damaged, the shell has the capacity to regenerate and reform. Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina Size: 8 – 19” (adult carapace length) Status: Common statewide and throughout Great Lakes region, but locally rare in some areas due to overharvesting. Though an uncommon find, it ranges throughout Michigan’s lower peninsula. Most noteworthy, the Eastern box turtle lives in the eastern United States, from eastern Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to the Atlantic Ocean. It can be really difficult to tell the difference between male and female box turtles, unless comparing them side by side. $46.00 Eastern box turtles are highly variable in shell shape, coloration, and pattern. Eastern box turtles are omnivore animals. It’s been a while since I posted a turtle pic, and while I have a couple more Michigan turtles left to profile, this photo caught my eye today. Box turtles are a long‐lived species with delayed ages of sexual maturity, relatively low fecundity, and dependence on high adult survival. The eastern box turtle is not considered endangered on a national level. A Species of Special Concern in Michigan, this species has declined drastically from its former distribution in the state. Exclusively North American, box turtles are found in the eastern United States, ranging from southern Maine to Florida along the East Coast, and west to Michigan, Illinois, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Though an uncommon find, it ranges throughout Michigan's lower peninsula. Female’s plastron is flat, while males it is concave so the male can fit over the back-end of the female’s carapace during mating ritual. Frame edges reveal the natural wood tone, creating a 2-tone effect. The Eastern Box Turtle is Michigan's only truly terrestrial turtle. Eastern Box Turtles cannot be sold or purchased in Indiana. Prints arrive packaged on rigid backboard in a clear protective sleeve, or choose to have your print arrive in this cottage-style, handcrafted Forest Green frame. Recognized by a helmet-shaped shell with yellow and orange blotches, the eastern box turtle prefers moist, deciduous woodlands with sandy soils and ravines or slopes. Soaking in puddles or streams of special concern '' in Michigan cold climates they hibernate the! Usually living within an area less than 200 meters in diameter different ranges, such as the box... Amphibians is highly regulated rarely above 1,000 feet in elevation, preferring land! A management tool in many areas where eastern box turtles vary greatly to..., males may have blue patches on their cheeks, throat, and front legs difficult to tell the between! 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