North American box turtle
North American turtles of the genus Terrapene / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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North American box turtles are turtles of the genus Terrapene. Although box turtles are superficially similar to tortoises in terrestrial habits and overall appearance, they are actually members of the American pond turtle family (Emydidae). The 12 taxa which are distinguished in the genus are distributed over seven species. They are largely characterized by having a domed shell which is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to retract its head and legs and close its shell tightly to protect itself from predators.
North American box turtle | |
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Florida box turtle, Terrapene carolina bauri | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Superfamily: | Testudinoidea |
Family: | Emydidae |
Subfamily: | Emydinae |
Genus: | Terrapene Merrem, 1820[1] |
Type species | |
Terrapene carolina | |
Species[1] | |
Terrapene carolina | |
Synonyms[2] | |
Cistuda Fleming, 1822 |