The Three Toed Box Turtle is a species of turtle that is native to parts of the South-Central United States. It is even the official reptile of the state of Missouri.
These turtles get their name from the fact that they only have three toes on their back feet.
Box Turtles are often mistaken as tortoises as they are land-based animals that have more similar characteristics to tortoises as opposed to aquatic turtles.
Three Toed Box Turtle Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Three Toed Box Turtle belongs to the Emydidae family of turtles. This is a family that contains 10 different genera and almost 50 different species of turtle.
Some of the Asian Box Turtles were once classified as part of this family but have since been reclassified. This includes species such as the Asian Box Turtle and the Chinese Box Turtle.
Genus
The genus that this Turtle belongs to is called Terrapene. This is a genus of Western Hemisphere Box Turtle.
There are currently 5 recognised species of Box Turtle in this genus but there are also a number of different sub-species.
The 5 species of Box Turtle in this genus are the Florida Box Turtle, the Eastern Box Turtle, the Coahuilan Box Turtle, the Spotted Box Turtle and the Ornate Box Turtle.
Species
The Three Toed Box Turtle is a sub-species of the Eastern Box Turtle. The scientific name for the Eastern Box Turtle is Terrapene carolina.
The scientific name for this sub-species is Terrapene carolina triunguis. It is closely related to other sub-species of Eastern Box Turtle such as the Gulf Coast Box Turtle and the Yucatan Box Turtle.
Three Toed Box Turtle Description
The Three Toed Box Turtle gets its name because of the fact that it only has three toes on its back legs.
The shell has a dome shape and is similar in appearance to a tortoise shell as opposed the flatter shells seen on aquatic turtles.
The shell is light in color with darker markings of brown often present. The lower shell or plastron is yellow in color.
The turtle itself is typically olive green or tan in color. This is usually uniform with very little patterning. However, some specimens will have a bit of dark blotching.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Three Toed Box Turtle can be found throughout much of the South-Central United States. It is even the state reptile of Missouri.
They can be found as far South as the Gulf Coast of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia while their range extends as far North as parts of Iowa and Illinois.
They can be found throughout all of the states in between which include Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Kansas and Missouri.
The Three Toed Box Turtle often breeds with other sub-species so it can sometimes be difficult to identify the exact sub-species when field research is being conducted.
This is also a popular species in the pet trade. Unfortunately, irresponsible pet owners, escapees and natural disasters have resulted in these turtles being released outside of their natural range.
This has resulted in populations of these turtles developing in places like Florida, California and South Carolina.
Three Toed Box Turtle Housing
Despite their relatively small size, the Three Toed Box Turtle needs a large enclosure to move around in as they are an active species.
If you live in the correct environment, you can house them in a large sectioned off area of your garden that is protected from predators.
If you are housing these turtles indoors, you will want an enclosure that has at least 3ft x 2ft of floor space. You might even want to go 4ft long for a larger adult.
You will need an enclosure that is around 2ft deep also. While your turtle wont climb, they like to dig so you will need a thick layer of substrate on the bottom of the enclosure.
Wooden or plastic enclosure are better for these turtles. They can also be much cheaper, especially if you can build them yourself.
Avoid using glass as your turtle can get confused and bump into it. If you are using a glass front, cover the bottom part with a darker material to prevent your turtle from bumping into it.
Substrate
You will need a layer of substrate that is deep enough to allow your turtle to burrow. Try to provide them with at least 6 inches of substrate.
You will also need a substrate that can hold humidity well without soiling. Good options include Coco Fibre, Peat Moss and Cypress Mulch.
Light and Heat
Like other reptiles, the Three Toed Box Turtle is cold blooded and needs a thermal gradient to regulate its body temperature.
You will need to provide a ‘hot spot’ at one end of the enclosure. As the turtle moves away from the source of the heat, the temperature will drop.
The temperature in the warm side of the enclosure should be around 85F. This can measure around 90F directly under the heat source.
The cooler side of the enclosure can drop to around 75F. This can drop further during the night but should never fall below around 70F.
If you are keeping your turtle in an outdoor enclosure, you don’t need to provide any special lighting as they will get all the UV they need from the sun.
However, when housing a Three Toed Box Turtle inside, you will need to provide them with a UV bulb.
A 10 percent UV tube that covers the entire length of the enclosure is ideal for these turtles. It should be on for 12 hours a day to provide a proper day/night cycle.
If you do not provide your turtle with a source of UV, they will develop serious medical issues such as metabolic bone disease.
Water and Humidity
You will want to include a large water bowl in the enclosure that isnt too deep. Your turtle will often climb into the water bowl to soak.
They will also drink from the water bowl so ensure the water is kept clean and changed regularly.
These turtles like high levels of humidity so you may need to mist the enclosure daily. Aim for humidity levels of around 70-80%.
Three Toed Box Turtle Diet
The Three Toed Box Turtle can be fed a diet that consists of both animal and plant-based foods. They generally aren’t too picky when it comes to food so getting them to eat usually isn’t an issue.
The animal portion of their diet can consist of things like Crickets, Super Worms, Slugs, Earthworms and even the occasional Pinkie Mouse. This can make up around half of their diet.
The other half should come from a variety of different fruit and vegetables with vegetables making up the majority of this portion.
You can offer them things like Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Sweet Potatoes and a bit of mashed up fruit.
It is also important to sprinkle the food with a vitamin and calcium powder to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need.