The Box Turtle

Box Turtle :: WLR : -Square box turtle or tortoise is a kind of turtle origin in North America (United States and Mexico). Is the distribution of 12 species in the genus is characterized by more than four types. Characterized in large part by the presence of the dome shell, which stops at the lower part, allowing the animal to seal the shell to escape predators. Box turtles have become popular pets, although their families in the complex.

 

The name of the genus Terrapene invented in 1820 by Miriam as a distinct genus of emydes for these species that have been a power that has been separated into two or three sections, which can be moved independently of these parts.

 

All box turtles have a high dome shield. All species is the dome, with the central gear in a corner of the first of over 50 degrees while the ground is often the central scales come. While T. Carolina species of a casual mid-plane of the first (a series of hills along the shield), this function is (almost) does not exist in other species. Accordingly detailed in a garrison (between tables in the abdomen and chest), and box turtles can be very tight Close to protect themselves from predators. Formula plastron (the relationship between the size of the balance) varies among species, but the order of the three largest scales are anal abdomen gular in all species. The ability to develop close and when it is grown and fourth generally lost only because of obesity.

 

Once we reached the stage of maturity, and the chance of death does not appear to increase with age. Survival curve of box turtles likely similar to that of other turtles live long. Average life span of the box turtle adults is 50 years, while a large proportion live over 100 years. The box turtle can age more in the wild is estimated at about calculating the growth rings on scales, and the guard is the best place to do this, because it also allows the study the style of dress. However, no rate of one episode per season confirmed the growth completely, and after some 20 years estimates are not reliable because it is usually worn smooth scales. Box turtle eggs are flexible, and be rectangular in shape (depending on species) of weight average length of 2-4 g 5-11 long. Natural clutch size is 1-7 eggs.

 

North American box turtles are omnivores with a very varied diet, box turtles as "eat basically anything that can catch." Invertebrates (among other things, terrestrial insects, worms, centipedes) are the major component, but the diet also consists of a large part (between 30-90% of reports) plants.