Common Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia β€ΊPhylum: Chordata β€ΊClass: Reptilia β€ΊOrder: Testudines β€ΊFamily: Emydidae β€ΊGenus: Terrapene

About

The common box turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a species of box turtle with six existing subspecies. It is found throughout the eastern United States and Mexico. The box turtle has a distinctive hinged lowered shell (the box) that allows it to completely enclose itself. Its upper jaw is long and curved.