One of only two turtles native to the Great Plains, the Ornate Box Turtle lives from Louisiana to Colorado, and is the state reptile of both Kansas and Nebraska; it is protected in Colorado. Their name comes from their bright yellow coloration, which, when viewed from above, looks like a sunburst on each of their scutes (the segments of the carapace). They also have a hinged plastron (the bottom part of the shell), which allows them to close up their shell tightly to protect their soft body parts. They are omnivorous and love to eat dung beetles – they have even been known to eat carrion.
142: Ornate Box Turtle
142: Ornate Box Turtle
142: Ornate Box Turtle
One of only two turtles native to the Great Plains, the Ornate Box Turtle lives from Louisiana to Colorado, and is the state reptile of both Kansas and Nebraska; it is protected in Colorado. Their name comes from their bright yellow coloration, which, when viewed from above, looks like a sunburst on each of their scutes (the segments of the carapace). They also have a hinged plastron (the bottom part of the shell), which allows them to close up their shell tightly to protect their soft body parts. They are omnivorous and love to eat dung beetles – they have even been known to eat carrion.