Geographic range:
Nearctic, Neotropical: This turtle ranges primarily across
the Great Plains and the northern Chihuahuan Desert in the USA from
Wyoming to Indiana and south to se. Arizona and Louisiana. In México,
it is distributed in the Chihuahuan Desert and associated habitats
in ne. Sonora, n. and c. Chihuahua and most likely also in the border
regions of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.
Physical characteristics: A medium-sized
turtle (10 - 12.5 cm) which can close it's shell completely, thus
earning itself the name "box turtle". It's carapace is dark
with yellow radiating markings, although adults of the western race
occasionally become plain straw yellow. It differs from others species
in it's genus by having a flat shell which lacks a keel, a plastron
as long as or longer than the carapace, and by the structure of the
toe in males.
Note on texonomy: Two subspecies
are recognized. Terrapene ornata luteola,
the Desert Box Turtle / Tortuga de Adornos del Desierto, is known
in México from ne. Sonora and Chihuahua. It differs from the
nominate subspecies, Terrapene ornata ornata,
the Ornate Box Turtle, primarily by carapace pattern. Terrapene
ornata ornata, is not known from México, but likely
occurs in the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande) drainage in Coahuila, Nuevo Leon
and Tamaulipas.
Food habits: It feeds primarily on
invertebrates, but also on vertebrates such as amphibians, reptiles
and small mammals. Captives will take adult rodents (pers. ob.)
Behavior: This turtles spends much
of it's time in burrows. During summer rains it can readily be found
crossing roads or active in the field.
Reproduction: It
breeds in summer.
Habitat: This turtle inhabits valleys, desert flats, plains
and rolling hills. In México it is primarily associated with
Chihuahuan desertscrub, plains grassland, mesquite grassland, oak
savannah, and peripherally in thornscrub.
Biomes: semi- desert, grassland
Conservation: Primarily an inhabitant
of the US, which enter México peripherally. It appears to be
common within it's range in Sonora (C.G. unpublished).
text by Chris
Grünwald |
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