box turtle

Box Turtle
Florida Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina bauri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Family:	Emydidae
Genera
Cuora Pyxidea Terrapene

The box turtle or box tortoise^[1] is one of several species of turtle. It can refer to either those of the genera Cuora or Pyxidea, which are the Asian box turtles, or more commonly to species of the genus Terrapene, the North American box turtles. They are largely characterized by having a domed shell, which is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators. Otherwise the two genera are very different in habitat, behavior, and appearance, and as such are not even classified in the same family. Even though box turtles have become very popular pets, their needs in captivity are complex and the capture of turtles can have serious detrimental effects on the wild population.

The average life span of box turtles is 40 years. However, it is possible for a box turtle to live for over 100 years.^[2] The age of a growing box turtle in the wild can be roughly estimated by counting the growth rings on the scutes; the plastron is the best place to do this because it also allows examination of wear pattern. Estimates beyond 20 years are unreliable because most turtles have stopped growing by that age, and the plastron is usually worn smooth.^[3]

Diet

North American box turtles are omnivores. Their sharp eyes and keen sense of smell help them in finding food such as snails, insects, berries, fungi, slugs, worms, roots, flowers, fish, frogs, salamanders, various rodents, snakes, birds, and eggs. During their first five to six years, the young are primarily carnivorous while they grow. Adults tend to be mostly herbivorous, but they do not eat green leaves.^[4] Box turtles have been known to eat road-kill. Babies and young turtles need more protein and prefer a carnivorous diet, and then include more and more plant matter as they get older.^[5]

Mating

While it appears that most Terrapene carolina mating occurs in one-to-one encounters, there are occasions when two males will contend for access to a single female. These encounters consisting of butting, shoving, and perhaps attempting to overturn each other. One of the males eventually becomes exhausted and retires from the field while the other wins access to the female.^{[citation needed]}

Threats

Habitat destruction is the biggest problem facing box turtles. Woodlands converted into farmland have reduced the turtles range in many US states.^[6] Remaining land is often fragmented with roads and housing projects, breaking up the animals' habitat. As they try to cross manmade additions, turtles are often killed by cars, animals, and other dangers.^[7]

Climate change may be a significant threat to Eastern and Three-toed Box Turtles. Recent findings suggest that precipitation and temperature regimes are closely linked to the growth and reproduction in box turtles. ^[6]

A further threat to these animals in North America is the capture and sale of wild-born box turtles. A 3-year study in Texas indicated that over 7,000 box turtles were taken from the wild for commercial trade. A similar study in Louisiana found that in a 41-month period, nearly 30,000 box turtles were taken from the wild for resale. Once captured, turtles are often kept in poor conditions where up to half of them die. Those living long enough to be sold usually suffer from conditions such as malnutrition, dehydration, and infection.^[8][9]

Indiana and other states have laws against collecting the turtles from the wild. In many states, it is illegal to keep them without a permit. Collecting box turtles from the wild may cause irreversible damage in the populations, as these turtles have a low reproduction rate and have a hard time finding a mate.^[6]

Most turtle and tortoise societies recommend against box turtles as pets for small children. Box turtles are easily stressed by overhandling and require more care than is generally thought. Box turtles can be easily injured by dogs and cats so special care must be taken to protect them from household pets and neighborhood animals. Box turtles require an outdoor enclosure, consistent exposure to the sun and a varied diet. Without these, a turtle's growth can be stunted and its immune system weakened.

Finding box turtles in the wild and taking them as pets, even for a very short period of time, can have detrimental effects. Box turtles want to stay within the same area where they were born. If one is moved more than a half-mile from its territory, it may never find its way back; but may spend years unsystematically searching. This exposes the animal to danger and also disrupts the breeding cycle.^[10]

Taxonomy

See Box turtle species

Studies

Davidson College in Davidson, NC has done many extensive studies regarding Box Turtles. Dr. Michael E. Dorcas runs the Herpetology Lab at Davidson and mainly focuses on a mark-recapture program that has been ongoing since 1999. Since then, there have been very few recaptures, showing that the population around Davidson is very large. When a Box Turtle is caught, students measure the carapace length, width, and depth, the weight, determine the sex, and mark the turtle by using an alphabetic system on the marginal scutes.^[11]

Sarah Budischak, Joy Hester, and Michael Dorcas did a study about the natural history of Box Turtles in a suburban environment. They examined: the health effects of a urban environment; the seasonal activity pattern differences by sex; the effects of urban environments on turtle size, condition, and age; and the dangers urban life can pose to Box Turtles.^[12]

Yurii Kornilev, Steve Price, and Michael Dorcas did a study about the effects of railroad tracks on Box Turtles. If trapped in between, only 1 out of 12 Box Turtles were able to climb out. The Box Turtles only have a limited time to escape because their temperature can raise to lethal temperatures if trapped for too long.^[13]

Box turtles appear to be highly susceptible to variation in seasonal precipitation and temperature. The changes that are predicted to occur by 2100 may devastate Box turtle populations. It is very unlikely that hatchling box turtles will survive under the projections for future climate and the ones that do are unlikely to reach an adult size or age appropriate to allow successful reproduction.^[14]

Notes

References

• Reptile Database
• Integrated Taxonomic Information Service
• The Snakes Found in Indiana with Informal Box Turtle information

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Turtles

• Golden Coin Box Turtle hatches A newborn golden coin box turtle at the Chester Zoo in Chester, England. The baby, one of three to be born at the zoo, is the first of the critically-endangered species ever to hatch in the United Kingdom.
• American Box Turtle Care Information at Caresheets.net
• Ornate Box Turtle - Terrapene ornata Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide
• The Snakes of Indiana, with informal information about box turtles
• Article on box turtle natural history and care