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Ornate Box Turtle
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- Order: Testudines (turtles and tortoises)
- Family: Emydidae (aquatic and subaquatic
turtles)
- Genus: Terrapene (box turtles)
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Also known as: Western
Box Turtle |
Scientific Name: Terrapene ornata
ornata Agassiz, 1857 |
Habitat: Grasslands
and open wooded areas of the Plains states. |
Terrapene=from Native American word for
turtle, ornata="ornate"
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Length: Carapace to 5.75
inches. |
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Food: A variety of
items--box turtles are omnivorous and opportunistic. |
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This male was found in open
prairie in southern Nebraska in June 1995. The womain in the
photograph is "tickling" the posterior portion of his
shell to entice him to come out for a picture. She's using a rock
so she doesn't have to touch the turtle directly--we were a long
ways from hand-washing facilities! |
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This is a closer shot of the
same turtle. You can see his red eyes. |
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We have a female ornate box turtle
as a pet. You can find out more about our pet by clicking
here. |
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