Ornate (Desert) Box Turtle
Terrapene ornata ornata
Intermediate
Identification
The carapace of the ornate box turtle is less domed than that of other box turtle species and the top is flattened. The largest individuals, of both sexes, have a carapace that exceeds 15 centimeters in length. The carapace is normally black or dark brown and decorated with yellow stripes. Males and females generally look alike but males are often smaller. Besides the size, males can be distinguished from females in several ways; a large curved inner claw on the back feet, a cloacal opening that is farther back in males, a longer and thicker tail, and reddish color on the legs and occasionally on the jaw.
Range
The home range of the ornate box turtle covers a large area of the Midwest, from Wisconsin to the Gulf of Mexico and from Louisiana to Colorado.
Diet
The ornate box turtle is an omnivore, with no particular dietary preferences; as an opportunistic feeder, it eats whatever is available in any given location or season such as grasses, berries, insects and other invertebrates (caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, earthworms), fruits, vegetables, and carrion (mammals, birds, amphibians, snakes, and even other turtles). This varied diet means the turtle has very little competition for available food resources.
Notes
The ornate box turtle is currently not endangered or threatened but is of concern and protected in six Midwestern states (Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, and Wisconsin).
The turtle is usually found in grasslands and on land rather than in water; they have been found in all habitat types of the Great Plains except aquatic, though most references indicate they prefer open grass or prairie lands.
Water is important for this turtle to regulate body temperature in hot weather and to replace body water after hibernation, but they do not spend large amounts of time in flowing or standing water.
In winter, ornate box turtles hibernate underground in burrows. They burrow in at about the same time in the fall and come out within 7–14 days of each other. They can survive freezing soil temperatures for many days.
The ornate box turtle is one of the most difficult species of North American turtle to successfully care for in captivity. So, unless you are willing to devote a lot of time and energy to learning about and caring for your turtle, it is better to pick one of the more sturdy species that are easier to provide with suitable conditions in captivity. When an ornate box turtle is kept in unsuitable conditions, it is prone to eye infections, ear abscesses and kidney problems.
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