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When he was younger I thought it was a 3-toed, but now I am not so sure...Any comments?

really old eastern or a florida

>>really old eastern or a florida

There's no way it's a Florida. My vote goes for Eastern or possibly Gulf Coast. Where did this particular animal come from?

Florida Boxie:

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Jeff H.
http://www.jandsherps.com
http://www.pareptile.org

Yeah, thats what I was thinking. Sorry about that. eastern or gulf coast but leaning more toward an old eastern. Where did you get it? That might explain something.

It's still a pretty young box turtle judging by the erosion on it's shell. Gulf Coast or Eastern.

Don't think it is gulf coast as does not have flared shell to keep them from sinking into mud - my vote would be some type of western box. Mary Beth

might be a desert box turtle were do u live did u find it or buy it that would help

I'd say just a different shade of Eastern. Harry

The facial markings resemble 'typical' 3-toed markings, but from what I gather, there's a fair amount of variation in coloration in 3-toeds, shell-wise... Could also be an eastern... or maybe a 3-toed/eastern cross.
NOT a Florida, though.
How old is it? Some clues might be its area of origin, age, whether it was captive bred (accidental or intentional cross), etc.
Do a Google image search of 3-toeds and see what you come up with...
Stephanie

you cant tell from the shell markings and alot of ppl dont realize that. some 3-toeds are very collorful so this could be a 3-toed. its not a gulf coast and not a florida. thats for sure. it can only be eastern or 3-toed. heres how you find out. there are realy 2 things to look at when you have narrowed it down to eastern and 3-toed. look at the number of toes on the hind feed and look at the lower shell color. 3-toeds have 3 toes on the hind feet and usualy have plain tan plastrons, not alot of dark color on it. easterns have 4 toes on the hind feet and more color on the plastron, blochy dark pigments. some ppl will say that 3-toeds often have 4 toes but thats not true. they are called 3-toeds because thats a important thing to look for. very few 3-toeds have 4 toes and then its usualy a little tiny toe or doesnt have a nail or something, not a normal toe

I went on a hunt for a photo someone had posted here from the Kingsnake classifieds about a year ago which showed a VERY colorful 3-toed offered for sale (couldn't find it, of course):
it had a very well-patterned shell, and I remebered folks commenting that it actually wasn't so very unusual for a 3-toed.
I went ahead and did a search for 3-toed images, and this guy actually doesn't seem to be out of line for 3-toed coloration, based on what I looked at.
Stephanie

This turtle is definately a 3 toed. And three toe'd most certainly can have 4 toes. I have at least one that does. And in fact most three toeds that I have have a 4th toe but it is very small and underdeveloped compared to the others, but I do have at least one with 4 very visible toes. I have two with very similar shell markings to this turtle.

Hmm looks like it may be some kind of cross b/w possibly an eastern/3toed/gulf coast. Hard to tell w/out more info. Def not a florida or desert box though.

Jesse

I live in Houston Texas. I got him from a co-worker about a year ago. He wasn't being housed properly and he has totally doubled in size since I have had him. I am not sure where he originally came from though. I was thinking that it is a eastern crossed with a 3-toed. I have seen a lot of 3-toeds, but not any quite like this one. I was just curious if anyone has seen one like this.
Thanks

if it has 3 toes on the back feet then its a 3-toed. the collor doesnt mean anything in 3-toeds. there all different colors. we see alot of plain tan or olive ones but there are lots that are very collerful too. so thats not something that tells you anything. look at the hind feet. if there are 3 toes, its a 3-toes. easterns dont live anywhere in texas so i bet its a 3-toed.

Hmm...not saying this is the best way to identify a box turtle (especially if it's a lost pet, drifter, hybrid, or not enough tracking studies), but here is a link to their ranges. It's pretty cool. (NOTE: images were taken without permission)

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/midorcas/research/Contribute/box%20turtle/easternrange.gif

Hi i know for absolute sure that this is a Eastern Box turtle, no doubt about it i'm surprized you got so many different answers its a very classic eastern

i tried to post a picture for you from the world chelonia website for you it looks just like your turtle it was in the box turtle picture gallery if you need to go find it

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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care