Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found this guy walking down (not across) the road at 6 PM yesterday. What an odd time for a turtle to be wandering the streets!! I will try to get a better pic of him walking around. It is for sure a guy, with the concave belly, just not good at the different sub species. Thanks.

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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

thats a male eastern box turtle
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My Site
1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
0.1 Nymphicus hollandicus
1.1 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.0 American Cocker Spaniels
1.0 American Short Hair? Cat
1.1 Rouen Ducks

Are you ready for this? Easterns, Three-toes, Gulf Coasts, and Florida box turtles all converge in Northern Florida. Identifying the different subspecies becomes a nightmare. You said you're in Northwestern Florida. You can assume that if you're very close to the Gulf, you have Gulf Coast box turtles. Size is supposed to play a role. Gulf Coasts average much larger than Easterns. If you're up near Georgia, they are probably Easterns. If you're in between, they're probably intergrades. As for Three-toes and Floridas, I don't see it.

To me, they look just like Eastern box turtles. In fact, I've found individuals crossing roads in NC that looked nearly identical to those. Either way, they're very attractive.

I agree with the above post ..It's very obvious; a Male Eastern Boxie. Nice one also!! Are you finding these in the same area?

Ric

Yes, both were found in my neighborhood walking in/down the road. Though I live in what is suppose to be a quiet place, people like to do 60 instead of the posted 30 mph. So, I picked these two up before they became speed bumps.
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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

Are you keeping them or releasing them back into the wild?

Right now they are in a protected 10 x 10 flower bed in my back yard(suppose to be a flower bed, but not really). Plenty of sun and shade, hides, soaking tub, slugs galore. I am in suburbia, lots of feral cats, fast cars, teenagers (nothing against them, but some of the boys around here are kinda the mean type) Right now I am not sure of a "safe" place to release them, and as previously stated, I have seen about a dozen dead on the road within a mile of my house in the last 2 weeks. I am not unfimiliar with boxie care, just struggle to diffierniate the different sub species. I want to do what is best for them, so right now I am just providing them with a safe place to hang out.
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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

I really wouldn't try to relocate them, there are many theories as to why not to and most of them make sence, if the area is as bad as you state then I think it would be best for these animals to remain captive, and if you are not able to care for them try contacting turtle homes, they will work with you to rehome them, and/or contact your local fish and wildlife service and explain the goings on(them being run over) , just dont say you've been capturing them - for your own sake - , I am not sure of florida laws in regards to the different subspecies, I do know florida box turtles(T.c. Bauri) is protected by law though.
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My Site
1.2.1 Terrapene Carolina Triunguis
0.1 Nymphicus hollandicus
1.1 Melopsittacus undulatus
1.0 American Cocker Spaniels
1.0 American Short Hair? Cat
1.1 Rouen Ducks

I've been told by residents of Fl. that they allow possession of 2 Terrapene carolina ssp. This means that they don't differentiate between the subspecies. You can only possess two, regardless if they are bauri, carolina, triunguis, or major...or yucatana and mexicana for that matter.

Well, no boxies are on the protected species list in Florida...

http://myfwc.com/imperiledspecies/pdf/Endangered-Threatened-Special-Concern-2004.pdf

And yes it is a limit of 2

"No person shall possess more
than two Barbour's map turtles, two Escambia
River map turtles, two diamondback
terrapins, two river cooters, two box
turtles, two loggerhead musk turtles, or
one alligator snapping turtle unless
authorized by permit from the Executive
Director as provided in Rules 68A-5.004,
68A-9.002, and 68A-27.002, F.A.C. River
cooters may not be taken from 15 April to
31 July."

Thanks for all of the info.
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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

Its against the law to sell box turtles in Florida. You can legally keep two for 'personal use', no permit required.
Because it's illegal to sell them, they do have a measure of protection (at least from a trade standpoint).

Here it is from the handbook

"Eggs of the following restricted turtle species are subject to the same possession limits that apply for those turtles. Possession limits for turtles and eggs: river cooters - two; alligator snapping turtles - one; loggerhead musk turtles - two; box turtles - two; Barbour’s map turtles - two; Escambia River map turtles - two; diamondback terrapins - two. No one may buy, sell or possess for sale alligator snapping turtles, box turtles, Barbour’s map turtles, river cooters, loggerhead musk turtles, Escambia River map turtles, diamondback terrapins or parts thereof."
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Jenea

1:1 Tricolor Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
0:0:1 Green Tree Frog
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse