Ornate Box Turtle

Terrapene ornata

This turtle is primarily found in the central and southwestern United States, ranging from southwestern South Dakota, southern Michigan, and Indiana, down to the Gulf Coast and northern Mexico. In Arizona, it inhabits elevations from about 609 m (2,000 feet) near Winkelman to over 2,164 m (7,100 feet) in the Huachuca Mountains, with the highest population densities between 910 and 1,989 m (3,000–6,500 feet).

The Ornate Box Turtle thrives in prairie-like environments, including grasslands, desertscrub, and open woodlands. It prefers sandy or loose soils suitable for burrowing and may occupy burrows created by kangaroo rats or self-dug shelters. This species is also occasionally observed in shallow puddles or under debris such as rocks and boards.

Primarily diurnal, this turtle is most active during the morning and after rainfall. It exhibits a semi-terrestrial lifestyle, showing occasional swimming behavior. During colder months, it hibernates underground. The species is long-lived, with wild individuals potentially exceeding 30 years of age. Unfortunately, road mortality poses a significant threat to this slow-moving turtle.

As an omnivore, the Ornate Box Turtle has a diverse diet. It consumes various insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets, alongside earthworms, crayfish, and even carrion. Plant material like cactus fruits, berries, grasses, and tender leaves also form a significant part of its diet. It is known to forage creatively, including digging through cow dung in search of beetles.

Breeding occurs in spring and fall, with females capable of retaining eggs for optimal nesting conditions. Clutches of 1–8 eggs are laid in shallow, well-drained soil between May and August. Hatchlings exhibit a distinct yellowish stripe along their carapace and darker plastral markings.

The Ornate Box Turtle is a protected species in several regions, including Arizona. Conservation laws prohibit activities such as capturing, harming, or collecting this species. This protection is crucial given its susceptibility to habitat loss and human impact.

The Ornate Box Turtle is a small terrestrial species with a shell length reaching up to 146 mm (5.75 inches). Its high, dome-shaped carapace features radiating yellow lines on a dark background, though older individuals may lose these patterns, resulting in a plain yellow or brownish shell. This species has a hinged plastron, enabling it to enclose itself fully within its shell for protection. Adult males typically exhibit orange-red irises and inward-curving first hind claws, while females have yellow to orange-brown irises.

This turtle is primarily found in the central and southwestern United States, ranging from southwestern South Dakota, southern Michigan, and Indiana, down to the Gulf Coast and northern Mexico. In Arizona, it inhabits elevations from about 609 m (2,000 feet) near Winkelman to over 2,164 m (7,100 feet) in the Huachuca Mountains, with the highest population densities between 910 and 1,989 m (3,000–6,500 feet). The Ornate Box Turtle thrives in prairie-like environments, including grasslands, desertscrub, and open woodlands. It prefers sandy or loose soils suitable for burrowing and may occupy burrows created by kangaroo rats or self-dug shelters. This species is also occasionally observed in shallow puddles or under debris such as rocks and boards. Primarily diurnal, this turtle is most active during the morning and after rainfall. It exhibits a semi-terrestrial lifestyle, showing occasional swimming behavior. During colder months, it hibernates underground. The species is long-lived, with wild individuals potentially exceeding 30 years of age. Unfortunately, road mortality poses a significant threat to this slow-moving turtle. As an omnivore, the Ornate Box Turtle has a diverse diet. It consumes various insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets, alongside earthworms, crayfish, and even carrion. Plant material like cactus fruits, berries, grasses, and tender leaves also form a significant part of its diet. It is known to forage creatively, including digging through cow dung in search of beetles. Breeding occurs in spring and fall, with females capable of retaining eggs for optimal nesting conditions. Clutches of 1–8 eggs are laid in shallow, well-drained soil between May and August. Hatchlings exhibit a distinct yellowish stripe along their carapace and darker plastral markings. The Ornate Box Turtle is a protected species in several regions, including Arizona. Conservation laws prohibit activities such as capturing, harming, or collecting this species. This protection is crucial given its susceptibility to habitat loss and human impact.

References:

Stebbins, R. C., & McGinnis, S. M. (2018). Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians (4th ed.). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Brennan, T. C. (n.d.-e). Ornate Box Turtle. The Reptiles and Amphibians of Arizona. https://reptilesofaz.org/turtle-amphibs-subpages/h-t-ornata/
Brennan, T. C., & Holycross, A. T. (2006). A field guide to Amphibians and reptiles in Arizona (2nd ed.). Arizona Game and Fish Dept.