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Class:
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Reptilia
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Order:
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Testudines
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Family:
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Emydidae
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Genus:
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Terrapene
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Species:
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ornata
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Life span:
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30 – 40 years
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Egg Gestation:
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Females lay 3 – 8 eggs several times a year
ncubation normally lasts 3 months |
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Number of young at birth:
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3 – 8
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Age of maturity:
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8 – 10 years
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Size:
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Males are slightly larger than females. Average shell length is about 2 – 6 in. long
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Weight:
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0.5 – 1.5 lbs.
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Description:
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The turtle’s shell does have a fancy look to it. Each shell segment (scute) has a radiating pattern of yellow lines on a dark brown background.
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| Habitat: | Open woodlands, pastures, and marshy meadows |
| Range: | The Ornate Box Turtle is a species that inhabits a significant portion of the Midwest region, ranging from the state of Wisconsin to Nebraska in the north and from Louisiana to Arizona (specifically, along the Colorado River) in the south. |
| Diet: | Snails, insects, berries, fungi, slugs, worms, roots, flowers, fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, birds, and eggs |
Fun Fact:
- Strictly terrestrial turtles
