Terrapene ornata

Terrapene ornata
Comparison of T. ornata subspecies, T. o. ornata and T. o. luteola
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Emydidae
Genus:	Terrapene
Species:	T. ornata
Binomial name
Terrapene ornata Agassiz, 1857

Terrapene ornata is a species of North American box turtle sometimes referred to as the western box turtle or the ornate box turtle.

Taxonomy

There are two subspecies of T. ornata:

• Ornate box turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata (Agassiz, 1857)
• Desert box turtle, Terrapene ornata luteola (Smith & Ramsey, 1952)

Description

T. ornata has a shell that is less domed than other species of box turtle, appearing to be slightly flattened. Their coloration is generally black or dark brown, with yellow striping. T. o. luteola tends to have more striping than T. o. ornata.

Range

T. ornata ornata is found in the central United States from western Indiana, to eastern Texas and into Louisiana. T. ornata luteola inhabits the driest areas of all the box turtle species, and is found in western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and adjoining areas of northern Mexico.

Conservation

In Indiana, the ornate box turtle is listed as an endangered species.

Symbol

The species became the official state reptile of Kansas in 1986.

References

• Shearer, Benjamin F.; Shearer, Barbara S. (1994). State names, seals, flags, and symbols (2nd ed.). Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-313-28862-3.

External links

• Chelonia.org: Box Turtles
• Ornate Box Turtle, Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa
• Terrapene ornata, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species