Baby turtle looking in camera

Front view of a tiny red-eyed turtle.

The common box turtle (Terrapene carolina) gets its name from the structure of its shell which consists of a upper shell and large hinged plastron (lower shell) which allows the turtle to close the shell, sealing its vulnerable head and limbs safely within an impregnable 'box'.

comments (4)

Blue Froggie

Bullet Ant

OH MY!!! Wonderful Shot! :O) Posted 14 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Froggie :) Posted 14 years ago

WildFlower

Lion

This is not a Spur-thighed tortoise. It looks like a box turtle, but I think it is the ornate, not the common one.
T. ornata have a shell that is less domed than other species of box turtle, appearing to be slightly flattened. Posted 12 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  I stand corrected, thanks so much for all the time and knowledge you're sharing with regards to specie identification. Posted 12 years ago