Gulf Coast box turtle

The Gulf Coast box turtle (Terrapene carolina major) is the largest subspecies of the common box turtle (Terrapene carolina).

Terrapene carolina major
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Genus: Terrapene
Species:
T. carolina
Subspecies:
T. c. major
Trinomial name
Terrapene carolina major
(Agassiz, 1857)
Synonyms[1]
  • Cistudo major Agassiz, 1857
  • Cistudo carolina var. major
    – Boulenger, 1889
  • Terrapene major – Baur, 1891
  • Toxaspis major – Cope, 1895
  • Terrapene major – M.J. Allen, 1932
  • Terrapene carolina major
    – Carr, 1940
  • Terrapene major major
    – Wilms, 1999

Description

Gulf Coast box turtles have a domed shell which can grow to 8 inches in shell length. It is generally dark brown or black in color, with yellow striping or blotching, the amount of blotching or striping can vary greatly.

Geographic range

The Gulf Coast box turtle can be found along the Gulf of Mexico from the state of Louisiana to the state of Florida.

Taxonomy and systematics

Intergrading with other subspecies of the common box turtle that it shares its range with is not uncommon.

Habitat

They are often found around estuaries and swampy regions, near shallow, permanent bodies of water.

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References
  1. Fritz, Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 198–199. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.


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