Common Box Turtle

By: Colin J. Buchmann

Brief Summary

I chose the Common Box Turtle because I personally think turtles are pretty awesome and would be interested in learning more about them.

Scientific Name: Terrapene carolina

Common Names:

Eastern Box TurtleAmerican Box TurtleCommon Box TurtleMexican Box TurtleYucatan Box Turtle

Table Source: ICNU Red List of Threatened Species Source: http://small-pets.lovetoknow.com

Population and Habitat

Source: Davidson College

Habitat: Varies

Environment: broadleaf forests, field/forest edges, shrubby grasslands, marshy meadows, stream valleys and palmetto thickets, among others.

Population: Less than 10,000 (According to a 2005 estimate by the US Geological Survey)

Life Span: Typical 25-35 years

Possible 50-80 years

Sources: IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesPopulation Estimate: US Fish and Wildlife Service brochure, 2008)

Food Sources

The Common Box Turtle is omnivorous, feeding on mushrooms, plant stems, leaves, flowers and fruits, slugs, snails, earthworms and numerous other types of food. Box turtles disperse and facilitate germination of certain plant seeds. 

Source: Digital West Media, Inc.

Sources: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Biology

Between May to July, the female box turtle lays 1-11 eggs, which require about 70-80 days to hatch

The eggs are laid in a sandy, beach-like soil Turtles enter hibernation in late October-early November

Sources: ARKive

Adaptability

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Further information could

not be found!

Source: ARKive

Current Environmental Status

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

The Common Box Turtle and all associated subspecies are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Sources: ARKive

Source: The Register

Threats to Continued Survival

Development of farmlands, suburban neighborhoods, and industrial complexes result in the demolition of the turtles’ habitat

Infrastructure, such as roads and railways, cut through natural habitats Slash and burn tactics destroy natural habitat

Sources: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Additional predators attracted by human activity/easy food

Direct impact such as being struck by automobiles and locomotives, as well as wild fires

Capture for illegal animal trade and “turtle racing” Released domestic turtles introduce new

deseases

Source: Houston Chronicle

Conservation Efforts

Various US states include turtles in general in legislation regarding the conservation of wildlife

All wild turtles are protected according to recent wildlife and natural resource legislation in Mexico

Natural habitats fall within the boundaries of many protected areas

Sources: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Source: Houston Chronicle

Bibliography

International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

ICNU Red List of Threatened Species (http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/21641/0)

United States Department of the Interior (United States Fish and Wildlife Service)

2008 brochure “Conservation Efforts: Vulnerable Animals”. Produced by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Printed by the United States Government Printing Office.

Wildscreen Media, Inc

ARKive (http://www.arkive.org/common-box-turtle/terrapene-carolina)

Photographical Credits

LoveToKnow Corp.

LoveToKnow – Small Pets (http://small-pets.lovetoknow.com/what-do-box-turtles-eat)

Davidson College – Davidson, NC

Davidson College Biology Department (http://bio.davidson.edu)

Digital West Media, Inc.

DesertUSA.com (http://www.desertusa.com/animals/centipedes.html)

Hearst Communications, Inc (Houston Chronicle)

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Ft. Worth Raid of 2009 (http://www.chron.com/)

“Obama once again at odds with Congress” October 2010 (http://www.chron.com/)

The Register (London, UK)

“What’s at stake for President-Elect Barack Obama?” 17 August, 2008 (http://www.theregister.co.uk/)