Meet Our Animals

Three Toed Box Turtle

Terrapene carolina triunguis

Names and Personal History:
Cletus: He’s kind of shy. We adopted him in 2003 from a Piedmont parent, who found the turtle loose, walking down the block in her neighborhood. Age unknown.
Native Habitat: Southeastern U.S., from Missouri down to Alabama and Texas.

Environment:
Moist forests and meadows.

Physical Characteristics:
This turtle has a domed carapace with variable coloration that ranges from yellow and black to dull brown and olive. The carapace also usually has some patterning. The plastron is hinged so the turtle can clamp its shell shut. Males usually have red eyes, while females have light brown eyes. The three-toed subspecies has three toes on each of its hind feet.

Diet:
Fairly omnivorous, these turtles will take fruits, veggies, worms, insects.