Turtle Spotlight: the Three-Toed Box Turtle!
Considered by most to be a fully separate species, Terrapene triunguis, from the Eastern, Florida, and Mexican box turtles (phylogenetics suggest it is not a subspecies of the eastern), this central US species ranges from roughly the Mississippi River Valley and Panhandle gulf coast of Florida westward into the eastern ranges of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. It is a moderately sized terrestrial animal, averaging between 4-6 but occasionally reaching 8 inches in shell length, and as name suggests sports only 3 toes on its back feet (a distinguishing trait). Their shell is usually far less patterned than oft sympatric ornate or eastern box turtles, ranging from mildly mottled or gradient shaded to one uniform flat color, yellow to deep olive (though some can also sport strong patterning, often with faded scute edges). This contrasts with the forelimbs and face which in females is often mottled in white or cream, and males can sport brilliantly fiery red and orange markings. Denizens of moist forests, meadows, and swamp edges, they are similarly also diverse in diet with everything from leafy greens to invertebrates and roadkill on the menu.
Like most turtles, the three-toed is a long-lived creature that can likely exceed 80 years in the wild, but threatened massively by habitat destruction, invasive predators, and road mortality both accidental and all too often purposeful. Their long lives mean populations are slow to rebound too, as they don’t mature for several years and everything eats the babies, so even one moderately busy road through otherwise pristine habitat can decimate their numbers. Drive with care, for these as well as all other wildlife crossing the streets (and roast everyone who targets them intentionally, they deserve no peace).
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