Common Box Turtle

The Common Box Turtle (Terrapene Carolina) is a species of box turtle with six existing subspecies. The box turtle has a distinctive hinged lowered shell (the box) that allows it to completely enclose itself. Its upper jaw is long and curved. Common box turtles are primarily terrestrial reptiles that are frequently spotted in the morning or after a rainstorm when they come out from the cover of decaying leaves, logs, or a mammal burrow to hunt for food. Earthworms, snails, slugs, insects, wild berries, roots, flowers, fungi, fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, birds, eggs, and occasionally even animal carrion are all part of these turtles' amazingly diverse diet.

Box turtles that are hibernating can be found in well-hidden locations all over Southern North America (USA and Mexico). Depending on the area and subspecies of turtle, the period of their winter hibernation can range from 77 to 154 days. They no longer need to breathe in air, and their heart rate lowers to just one beat every five to ten minutes (although they do take in oxygen through their skin).