F. Wayne King photo.
Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina
Florida box turtles are found in the live oak hammock and dunes meadows in Fort Matanzas National Monument. They are fairly omnivorous, eating herbs, grasses, ferns, fungi, and other plants and also scavenging dead animals. Box turtles lay up to 8 eggs in mid-summer. A hatchling cannot close its shell. However, as it grows, a hinge develops across the middle of the lower shell that allows the front half and the rear half to close against the upper shell. This provides complete protection to the head and limbs.
F. Wayne King photo.
The underside of a box turtle when it is completely closed.
The hinge is clearly shown.
