Mexican box turtle

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Mexican box turtle
Emydidae - Terrapene mexicana (Mexican Box Turtle) (1).jpg
Terrapene mexicana at Zoo Atlanta
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Genus: Terrapene
Species:
T. mexicana
Binomial name
Terrapene mexicana
(Gray, 1849) [2]
Synonyms [3] [4]
List
  • Cistudo (Onychotria) mexicanaGray, 1849
  • Onychotria mexicana LeConte, 1854
  • Cistudo carolina var. mexicana Boulenger, 1889
  • Onichotria mexicana Herrera, 1890
  • Chelopus mexicanus Velasco, 1892
  • Terrapene mexicana Baur, 1893
  • Terrapene goldmani Stejneger, 1933
  • Terrapene mexicana mexicana H. M. Smith & Taylor, 1950
  • Terrapene carolina mexicana Milstead, 1967
  • Terapene mexicana mexicana Nietzke, 1973

The Mexican box turtle (Terrapene mexicana) is a species of box turtle belonging to the family Emydidae. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of Terrapene carolina (Terrapene carolina mexicana). [3]

Contents

Geographic range

This species is endemic to Mexico. It is found in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz and San Luis Potosí. [2] [5]

Habitat

It lives in areas with tropical climates within humid forests at shallow rainwater puddles. [6]

Description

Terrapene mexicana can reach a length of about 18–20 cm (7.1–7.9 in). [6] The carapace is long and dome-shaped, with rather variable color and markings. The adult males show gray-blue nuances on the head and red or orange nuances on the front legs. [6]

Biology

The Mexican box turtle does not have much information on them because very few of them are domesticated (kept as pets). However, we do know that they have a lifespan of 100 years. Usually these turtles have water nearby homes and a bush to hide. Having a home by the water will attract insects, which are a big part of their diet.

Bibliography

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References

  1. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  2. 1 2 Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Inverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley; Roger, Bour (2011-12-31). Turtles of the world, 2011 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status Chelonian Research Monographs. N. 5
  3. 1 2 Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World"
  4. The Reptile Database
  5. iNaturalist
  6. 1 2 3 Herpetomania (in Italian)