Gulf Coast box turtle

Gulf Coast box turtle
Conservation status
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[1]
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[2]
Cistudo major Agassiz, 1857 Cistudo carolina var. major – Boulenger, 1889 Terrapene major – Baur, 1891 Toxaspis major – Cope, 1895 Terrapene major – , 1932 Terrapene carolina major – Carr, 1940 Terrapene major major – Wilms, 1999

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

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.

References[]

• Chelonia.org: care of Box Turtles

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