Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had a few ornate boxies for a few years. I am familiar with Florida Box turtles. Today I was given a box turtle that doesn't look like either an ornate or florida box turtle. It is much larger than an ornate, but not as domed as a florida boxie. And it is not as striped as a Florida boxie. It has yellow markings, more like spots, on its head and legs. I have been searching through photos, but I just can't seem to find what it is. Any ideas on what it could be? I saw the same exact kind at the pet store, and they called an it an ornate. But I don't think that is what it is. It does have a yellow stripe down its back that is raised. Oh yah, and its plastron is very very concave. Thanks for your help!

Shawnon

I forgot to say that I live in Tampa Florida. Thanks!

I've heard of them having spots before... a friend of mine had one like that. It's hard to say anything definite though. I live in Clearwater, about a half hour from Tampa. If you want to drive the turtle over and let me look at it, I'll do my best to identify it, and I'll take pics for you and post them on the forum.

I actually live in St Pete. I was looking at it today, and it looks kind of like maybe a hybrid, ornate x florida box. I know that both are native to my area. Not sure, hard to tell. I'll take some pictures and get them posted soon, that might help. My dig cam broke, so I'll have to take some and get them developed to cd. Thanks for the offer.

Shawnon

I Live in Florida myself and have handled many box turtles I have come across here. Please try and get a pic it is almost impossible to know what it could be as I have found Gulf Coast, Eastern's and of course Florida box turtles here in the state, it is also very common to find gulf coast/Florida box mix which if I had to take a guess I would say that is probably what you have as the variability with this hybrid varies greatly.

Could it be that you were given a Gulf Coast Box, T. c. major? The dead give away to me is your mention of the size. The pair that I have are easily 200 grams larger than even my largest 3 toes, T. c. triunguis. From your description of it's markings it also sounds like T.c. major. I don't have my range maps in front of me at the moment, so I'm not sure if it is native to your location or not. However you mention that it was given to you, rather than you having found it. Just a thought...

Ian

The person that gave it to me found it somewhere in this area. I can't seem to find a picture of a gulf coast to confirm this. But it does have the flared scute things around the bottom ( I forget the technical term ). Thanks for your help.

Shawnon

You might try www.chelonia.org. Do a site search for box turtle or Terrapene carolina major and it should come up with something. Let us know what you find....

Ian