American Box Turtle Facts


The following table lists all species/subspecies of the American Box Turtle Family, starting with the 5 common USA 'only' species:

Common Name Scientific Name Natural Range Size
Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina carolina Maine to Georgia, westwards to Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee 4.5 - 6.0"
Florida Box Turtle Terrapene carolina bauri Florida
6.5"
Gulf Coast Box Turtle Terrapene carolina major Gulf coast from West Florida to Texas 5.0 - 7.0"
Three-toed Box Turtle Terrapene carolina triunguis From Missouri southwards to Texas and Alabama 4.5 - 5.0"
Ornate Box Turtle Terrapene ornata ornata From S Dakota and Illinois southwards to Arizona and Texas 4.0 - 5.0"
Desert Box Turtle Terrapene ornata luteola S Texas and NE Mexico (Coahuila to Tamaulipas)  
Mexican Box Turtle Terrapene carolina mexicana East Mexico (Nuevo Leon southwards to Vera Cruz)  
Yucatan Box Turtle Terrapene carolina yucatana SE Mexico (Yucatan and Quintana Roo)  
Coahuila Box Turtle Terrapene coahuila NE Mexico (Coahuila)  
Nayarit (Spotted) Box Turtle Terrapene nelsoni nelsoni NE Mexico (Nayarit)  
Klauber's (Spotted) Box Turtle Terrapene nelsoni klauberi NW Mexico (S Sonora)  


Terms Defined:
Carapace:   The upper shell.
Plastron:     The lower shell.
Scutes:       The individual plates covering the carapace.

Determining Sex of Box Turtles:
For Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina):
Eye 'iris' color (male):   Orange-yellow
Head/Limbs Coloring (male):   Is more colorful than females.
Plastron (male):   Is 'Concaved' near the rear region.
Plastron (female):   Is 'Flat' overall.
Tail (males):   Is 'Longer' than the females.
Tail Thickness at Base (male):   Is thicker than females.
Size (female):   Are generally smaller than males of the same age.

 Determining Sex of Box Turtles:
For Florida Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina bauri):
Eye 'iris' color (male):   Red
Eye 'iris' color (female):   Yellowish-Brown
Plastron (male):   Is 'Concaved' near the rear region.
Plastron (female):   Is 'Flat' overall.
Tail (males):   Is 'Longer' than the females.
Tail Thickness at Base (male):   Is thicker than females.
Size (female):   Are generally smaller than males of the same age.

 Determining Sex of Box Turtles:
For Gulf Coast Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina major):
Eye 'iris' color (male):   Red
Eye 'iris' color (female):   Yellowish-Brown
Plastron (male):   Is 'Concaved' near the rear region.
Plastron (female):   Is 'Flat' overall.
Tail (males):   Is 'Longer' than the females.
Tail Thickness at Base (male):   Is thicker than females.
Size (female):   Are generally smaller than males of the same age.

 Determining Sex of Box Turtles:
For Three-Toed Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina triunguis):
Eye 'iris' color (male):   Red
Eye 'iris' color (female):   Yellowish-Brown
Plastron (male):   Is 'Concaved' near the rear region.
Plastron (female):   Is 'Flat' overall.
Tail (males):   Is 'Longer' than the females.
Tail Thickness at Base (male):   Is thicker than females.
Size (female):   Are generally smaller than males of the same age.

 Determining Sex of Box Turtles:
For Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata):
Eye 'iris' color (some males):   Reddish
Forelimbs Coloring (some males):   Reddish Spots.
Forelimbs Coloring (female):   Yellowish Spots.
Head Coloring (some males):   Greenish to Lime-green.
Plastron (male):   Is 'Flat' overall.
Plastron (female):   Is 'Flat' overall.
Tail (males):   Is 'Longer' than the females.
Tail Thickness at Base (male):   Is thicker than females.
Size (female):   Are generally smaller than males of the same age.

Record Lifespans of Box Turtles:
Florida Box Turtle:   22 years, 7 months.
Eastern Box Turtle:   26 years, 5 months.
Three-Toed Box Turtle:   26 years, 5 months.

It is believed that the potential lifespan for Box Turtles is 30 to 40 years. However, there have been reports that some have lived longer than 100 years.

Hibernation Information:
In Northern USA, hibernation starts around October. In Southern USA, hibernation starts around November, and sometimes even later. Turtles will 'begin preparations' to go into hibernation when the 'average' temperature drops below 65 degrees fahrenheit. Typically, they hibernate for 4 months, with 5 months being the exception.
Suitable Hibernation Temperature:   Upper 50's to low 60's.
Lowest Tolerable Temperature:   40's

Captive Baby Box Turtle Information:
Average size of baby box turtle hatchlings:   1.125" to 1.25".
Time to grow to full size adults:   4 to 6 years.
          The Above Assuming: No hibernation, fed year round.
Growth after reaching 4 to 5 inches long:   Slows down considerably.
Growth after 10 years old:   Very little shell growth.
Sexual maturity (male):   4 years.
Sexual maturity (female):   After 5 to 7 years.

All facts on this page came from one of the following books:

'The Box Turtle Manual'
By: Philippe de Vosjoli/Roger Klingerberg
Publisher: Advanced Vivarium Systems, Inc., Lakeside, CA
Roger's Comments: Good photos, Fair species specific information, Excellent medical information.
Box Turtle Photos: Eastern, Gulf Coast, Three-Toed, Ornate, Desert, Mexican, Florida, Coahuila.

'Box Turtles - Keeping & Breeding Them in Captivity'
By: Jordan Patterson
Publisher: T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ
Roger's Comments: Excellent photos, Good species specific information, Mediocre medical information.
Box Turtle Photos: Eastern, Florida, Ornate, Spotted, Coahuilan, Desert, Baby Gulf Coast, Baby Three-Toed, Baby Eastern, Baby Florida, Baby Ornate.

'Turtles Today'
By: John Coborn
Publisher: yearBOOKS, Inc., Neptune City, NJ
Roger's Comments: Excellent photos of MANY types of Turtles and Tortoises, sparse species specific information, Fair medical.
Box Turtle Photos: Desert, Ornate, Eastern, Three-toed.

'A Step-by-Step Book About Tortoises'
By: Christine Adrian
Publisher: T.F.H. Productions, Inc., Neptune City, NJ
Roger's Comments: Very little Box Turtle information, No medical.
Box Turtle Photos: Ornate, Baby Ornate, Eastern.

'Enjoy Your Turtle'
By: Richard Haas
Publisher: The Pet Library Ltd., New York, NY
Roger's Comments: Very little Box Turtle information, No medical.
Box Turtle Photos: Florida.

This page Edited/Updated:   04-01-98   8:30 PM
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