Mexican box turtle explained
The Mexican box turtle (Terrapene mexicana) is a species of box turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of Terrapene carolina (Terrapene carolina mexicana).
Geographic range
This species is endemic to Mexico. It is found in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz and San Luis Potosí.[1]
Habitat
It lives in areas with tropical climates within humid forests at shallow rainwater puddles.[2]
Description
Terrapene mexicana can reach a length of about .[2] The carapace is long and dome-shaped, with rather variable color and markings. The adult males show gray-blue nuances on the head and red or orange nuances on the front legs.[2]
Biology
The Mexican box turtle does not have much information on them because very few of them are domesticated (kept as pets). However, we do know that they have a lifespan of 100 years. Usually these turtles have water nearby homes and a bush to hide. Having a home by the water will attract insects, which are a big part of their diet.
Gallery
- Bibliography
- Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Inverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley; Roger, Bour (2011-12-31). "Turtles of the world, 2011 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status". Chelonian Research Monographs. 5.
- Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57
- Dodd, C. Kenneth. North American Box Turtles a Natural History. University of Oklahoma Press, 2002.
- Milstead, William W., and Donald W. Tinkle. "Terrapene of Western Mexico, with Comments on the Species Groups in the Genus". Copeia, vol. 1967, no. 1, 1967, p. 180.,
- Stone, Lynn M. Nature Watch: Box Turtles. Lynn M. Stone, 2007.
External links
Notes and References
- https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/39815-Terrapene-carolina-mexicana iNaturalist
- http://www.herpetomania.it/PDF%20schede%20acquatiche/Terrapene%20carolina.pdf Herpetomania
