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Eastern box turtles have very pretty high domed shells, which are generally dark with a radiating pattern of yellow or orange. Their head and legs contain yellow markings. Males usually have red eyes, and both contain a plastron that allows their shell to close. These turtles aren't super big, the adults are usually between 4.5 to 7.8 inches in length. Keep on reading to learn more about these exciting creatures!
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This joke from the office where Kevin runs over a turtle may be funny to watch, but actually it is one of the reasons eastern box turtles are facing the threat of extinction. Besides road mortality, habitat loss, collection for pets, being run over, and lack of food due to invasive species are all factors contributing to the population decline of these turtles.
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HABITATBox turtles, exclusive to North America, live in eastern United States. Their habitat has a wide range, from southern Maine to Florida along the East Coast, and west to Michigan, Illinois, eastern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. However, they are very popular house pets so it would not be too surprising to find one outside of its expected habitat. The subspecies of box turtle that lives in Michigan is actually the most common species, terrapene carolina carolina Box turtles live in open woodlands, pastures, and marshy meadows. These turtles can often found near streams and ponds.
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DIETBox turtles are omnivores whose meals include snails, insects, berries, fungi, slugs, worms, roots, flowers, fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, birds, and eggs indiscriminately. That said, these turtles have been seen eating carrion, dead ducks, amphibians, assorted small mammals, and even a dead cow. The young are primarily carnivorous for the first 5-6 years of their life. In adulthood they tend to be mostly herbivorous, however they do not eat green leaves. The young will hunt in ponds and streams because its easier for them, but adults usually feed on land.
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Skill Three
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Information gathered from:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12145_12201-60648--,00.html
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Easternboxturtle.cfm
http://www.boxturtles.com/eastern-box-turtle/
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12145_12201-60648--,00.html
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/FactSheets/Easternboxturtle.cfm
http://www.boxturtles.com/eastern-box-turtle/