Characteristics:
     A small terrestrial turtle with a carapace length of only about 5in. Their shell has a very high dome to it and is dark with yellow or orange lines radiating from each scute. The shell pattern is variable. Their head is dark and marked with orange spots and a white or orange throat. The plastron of this trutle is hunged allowing it to pinch shut.

*Note: There are 2 subspecies in this area. The eastern box turtle (T. c. carolina) and the three-toed box turtle (T. c. triunguis) which has only three toes on the hind feet.


Habitat:
   Commonly seen in forests and around the edge of forests after rain. They can be found attempting to cross roads after a rain storm as well, and many are killed this way.


Behavior:
     This terrestrial turtle seems to become most active after rainfall when it forages for earthworms. They also eat berries and fungi as well as a variety of insects. Nesting is done in early summer. The two subspecies mentioned above are historically seperated by the Mississippi River (triunguis in MO and carolina in IL),but recently three-toed have been turning up in IL. This is mostly attributed to people bringing them over as pets and then releasing them.

Personal Remarks:
    One of the only fully terrestrial turtle we have in this area. It is always a pleasure to see these guys. In regards to the three-toed / eastern distribution, I have seen both subspecies in my own back yard and I live in IL. Actually, in 2009 we saw 4 different box turtle back there; a male and a female three-toed and a male and a female eastern. It is possible that they are crossing. Will be interesting to see the hatchlings in the coming years.