Three-toed Box Turtle
ExploreReptiles
Three-toed Box Turtle
Terrapene triunguis
The Three-toed Box Turtle is a small turtle with a special shell that can close up tight! They are friendly and love to explore their surroundings slowly.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Three-toed Box Turtle has a high-domed, reddish-brown shell, often with faint yellow or olive markings. Its head and limbs are typically yellowish-orange, sometimes adorned with red spots. A key feature is the three distinct toes on each hind foot, making it unique.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassTestudinesOrderTestudinesFamilyEmydidaeGenusTerrapene
Category
ReptilesRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A box turtle can sometimes survive for over a year without food!
Each growth ring on their shell can tell you how old they are.
Temperature decides if a hatchling will be male or female!
They often have favorite spots and rarely roam far from home.
Special abilities
Ability
Forest Camo
Three-toed Box Turtle has drab brown and olive colors that help them blend perfectly into the forest floor, hiding from hungry eyes.
Ability
Keen Sniffer
Three-toed Box Turtle can find hidden food like mushrooms and grubs because of its excellent sense of smell, even after rain.
Ability
Survival Hibernation
Three-toed Box Turtle can survive cold winters by digging into the soil and entering a deep sleep, conserving energy until spring.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 10-14 cm
- Weight
- 0.3-0.6 kg
- Lifespan
- 30-50 years
- Top Speed
- 0.5 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 1-8
- Incubation
- 70-120 days
Diet & Feeding
They are omnivores, munching on a variety of plants, fruits, fungi, and small critters!
Age differences: Younger turtles eat more insects and protein, while adults consume a broader omnivorous diet.
Primary Foods
- Insects
- Slugs
- Mushrooms
- Berries
- Fallen fruit
- Roots
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Raccoons often prey on their eggs and hatchlings when found.
eaten by
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Skunks can dig up and eat box turtle eggs or small young.
eats
Leopard Slug
Limax maximus
The turtles will forage for and eat slow-moving slugs.
eats
Morel Mushroom
Morchella esculenta
A favorite food source, they seek out various fungi like morels.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Omnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Armored
Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
If you see a turtle, watch it from a distance and don't touch it without asking an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Three-toed Box Turtle?
10-14 cm
How much does Three-toed Box Turtle weigh?
0.3-0.6 kg
How long does Three-toed Box Turtle live?
30-50 years
How fast can Three-toed Box Turtle move?
0.5 km/h
What does Three-toed Box Turtle eat?
They are omnivores, munching on a variety of plants, fruits, fungi, and small critters!
Where is Three-toed Box Turtle usually found?
Forests
How does Three-toed Box Turtle hunt?
Foraging
How many eggs does Three-toed Box Turtle lay?
1-8
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