Coahuilan box turtle

Terrapene coahuila

The Coahuilan box turtle is a small turtle with a beautiful, colorful shell. They like to hide in their shells when they feel scared, and they are very special because they are found only in a few places in Mexico.

Hábitat: Wetlands

Aspecto

The Coahuilan box turtle has a small, dome-shaped shell, typically olive to dark brown, with a distinctive hinged plastron. Its feet are notably webbed, a unique adaptation among box turtles for aquatic life. The skin is dark with lighter flecks, helping it blend into murky waters.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseTestudinesOrdenTestudinesFamiliaEmydidaeGéneroTerrapene

Coahuilan box turtle

Categoría

Reptiles

Rareza

Rare

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

It's the only box turtle that spends most of its life swimming in water, not on land!

Its marshy home stays warm year-round thanks to natural springs, like a giant natural bathtub.

They munch on algae, snails, and insects, helping keep their special water habitat clean.

This turtle only lives in ONE unique desert valley in Mexico, nowhere else on Earth!

Habilidades especiales

Coahuilan box turtle can pull its head, tail, and limbs inside its shell and close it almost completely because of its hinged plastron, protecting it from danger.

Coahuilan box turtle has webbed feet that help it swim efficiently through shallow water, making it a unique aquatic box turtle.

Coahuilan box turtle can stay submerged underwater for extended periods, helping it forage for food and hide from predators.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 10-15 cm
Peso: 0.2-0.5 kg
Esperanza de vida: 30-60 años
Top Speed: 0.1 km/h
Velocidad de nado: 0.5 km/h
Tamaño de la puesta: 1-5
Incubación: 60-90 días
Profundidad máxima: 2 m

Dieta y alimentación

An opportunistic eater, it munches on plants, insects, and small aquatic critters found in its marshy home.

Alimentos principales

algae
aquatic insects
snails
small fish
carrion

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Raccoons sometimes raid nests or hunt adult turtles.

eats

Bladder Snail

Physa acuta

Feeds on this common aquatic snail found in its habitat.

eats

Cuatro Ciénegas Gambusia

Gambusia marshi

Preys on small fish unique to its desert oasis home.

depends on

Broadleaf Cattail

Typha latifolia

Uses dense vegetation for shelter and hiding from predators.

Rasgos

Solitario

Los animales solitarios viven solos durante la mayor parte de su vida y solo interactúan con otros para aparearse o cuidar de sus crías.

Camuflado

El camuflaje describe a los organismos que poseen colores o patrones que les permiten mezclarse con su entorno.

Colorido

Colorido describe a organismos u objetos que exhiben una amplia variedad de colores brillantes y distintivos.

Herbívoro

Este rasgo caracteriza a los organismos cuya dieta consiste total o principalmente en material vegetal.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.