Common name:
Eastern box turtleESF category:
BIUCN category:
VulnerableCITES:
INT - Appendix II
EU - Appendix BRegistered animals:
10Studbook coordinators:
Paul Coleman
Register your animals
To register your animals or if you have other questions, please contact the studbook coordinator.
Species Description
Eastern box turtles have a high, dome-like carapace and a hinged plastron that allows total shell closure. The carapace can be of variable coloration, but is normally found brownish or black and is accompanied by a yellowish or orangish radiating pattern of lines, spots or blotches. Skin coloration, like that of the shell, is variable, but is usually brown or black with some yellow, orange, red, or white spots or streaks. This coloration closely mimics that of the winter leaf of the tulip poplar. In some isolated populations, males may have blue patches on their cheeks, throat, and front legs. Furthermore, males normally possess red eyes (irises) whereas females usually display brown eyes. Eastern box turtles feature a sharp, horned beak, stout limbs, and their feet are webbed only at the base. Eastern box turtles have 5 toes on each front leg, and normally 4 toes on each hind leg, although some individuals may possess 3 toes on each hind leg. Staying small in size, most range from 4.5 to 6 inches, but occasionally reach over 7 inches. In the captivity, box turtles are known to live over 100 years, but in the wild, often live much shorter lives due to disease and predation.