Palm Beach Zoo - Three-toed Box Turtle

Three-toed Box Turtle

Terrapene Carolina Triunguis: This terrestrial turtle varies in color from drab yellow to vibrant orange.; The plastron (lower shell) is hinged to allow the turtle to close itself in its shell as protection from predators.; They inhabit river valleys and woodlots of the south-central United States.; Males and females can be distinguished because males have red eyes and females have brown eyes.; Males also have a plastron indentation, which grants them balance when leaning over the carapace of a female during copulation.