Three-toed Box Turtle

Description:

Three toes on back feet. Domed shell (avg. 4.5-5 inches long). Record shell length is 7 inches. Highest part of carapace is more posteriorly positioned than other subspecies. Dorsal and limb coloration is commonly completely absent, though some dark blotches are common in adults. These areas are often a uniform olive green or tan color. Sometimes faint yellow dots or lines are visible in the center of each large chute. Head and throat often have yellow, orange, or red spots. Frequently the bottom of the shell or plastron is a straw yellow color and has fewer dark markings than the plastrons of other subspecies.

Habitat:

Eastern Texas to the northern edge of the Florida Panhandle. Northmost habitat is Missouri and Kansas, Southernmost is Louisiana. Depending on time of year they are observed in grasslands or forests. During dry times they burrow into leaf litter to conserve moisture. When water is available they soak for long periods of time. Known to eat earthworms, insects, snails, slugs, strawberries, mushrooms, green-leafed vegetation, quail eggs. As pets they have been reported to eat mealworms, corn, melon, crickets, waxworms, tomatoes, cooked eggs, fruit, and even moist dog food.

Notes:

Three-toed Box turtles are a subspecies within the genus of hinge-shelled turtles (box turtles). Some believe there are 4-toed examples and speculate they are actually Eastern box turtle x three-toed box turtle hybrids.