# 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. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Three-toed Box Turtle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Three-toed_Box_Turtle.jpg&width=800) Photo: Original uploaded by Carnopod (Transfered by L.tak ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Three-toed_Box_Turtle.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Emydidae - **Genus:** Terrapene ## 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 - **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. - **Keen Sniffer:** Three-toed Box Turtle can find hidden food like mushrooms and grubs because of its excellent sense of smell, even after rain. - **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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## 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 to identify Three-toed Box Turtle? Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Locust Grove State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/locust-grove-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve - [Dickerson Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dickerson-park-zoo) — Missouri, US · Zoo - [Frank Buck Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/frank-buck-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Oklahoma Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oklahoma-aquarium) — Oklahoma, US · Zoo - [Blue Springs Heritage Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blue-springs-heritage-center) — Arkansas, US · Botanical Garden - [Garvan Woodland Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/garvan-woodland-gardens) — Arkansas, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Three-toed Box Turtle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/three-toed-box-turtle) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Three-toed Box Turtle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/three-toed-box-turtle)