Modified version of photo by Carnopod
The three-toed box turtle, T.c. triunguis, is one of the smaller box turtles. It lives mostly in Southern states. It gets its name from a feature common to many animals of this subspecies—namely having only three toes on their hind legs.
What the Three-toed Box Turtle Looks Like
This turtle is relatively small, at about 4 to 6 inches long. It has the same highly domed carapace as most of the T. carolina animals. But it tends to be longer and narrower than the Eastern box turtle. It also has an obvious keel.
Its shell color ranges from olive or yellowish brown to brown. The scutes may be patterned with thin lines or spots. Its plastron is usually tan, sometimes with darker areas at the edges of the scutes. Unlike the Eastern box turtle, the males of this subspecies don’t usually have a concave plastron.
The three-toed box turtle has brown skin and orange or yellow scales. The hind feet often have three toes, but it’s not unusual to see three-toed box turtles with four toes on the hind legs.
Males have pink or red eyes while females’ are brown.
Where the Three-toed Box Turtle Lives
The three-toed box turtle has a fairly wide range. You can find it throughout much of the central and southern states from Arkansas to Kansas and western Georgia to northwest Texas. Within these states, it finds areas with good humidity, hiding places and food sources to live.
The size of its range depends on the amount of resources available. If food and water are easy to find, it may only need a few hundred square feet. If resources are scarce, it will need a larger home range.
How the Three-toed Box Turtle Lives
Like all box turtles, this one forages for food and explores during the day. At night, it finds a bush, fallen log or other safe place to hide and sleep.
Depending on the climate where it lives, the turtle may also estivate (during hot, dry weather) or brumate (during cold weather). These are similar to hibernation in that the animal burrows and lowers its metabolism in order to survive until the weather turns nicer again.
Diet for the Three-toed Box Turtle
The three-toed box turtle is an opportunistic feeder, just like any box turtle. It will eat both plant and animal matter that it can find.
In general, box turtles need about half animal and half plant matter in their diets. Younger box turtles are more carnivorous than fully adult turtles.
Can you help me to look what for box turtle i have on picture?
I can buy an female. First i need to now what it is.
Thanks
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I live in South Alabama and have 2 three toed turtles. My male is 6+ years old and my female is 5+ years old. I got both of them when they were an inch (?) long. I finally have a yard & have built them their own yard with a pool and igloo (dog) house. I have concerns about leaving them in the colder temperatures bc this will be their first winter outside (if I decide to leave them outside) I have learned so much about how to properly take care of them. They like their yard but tend to hide more than bask or swim in their pool. I try to feed them worms, a blend of vegetables, boiled or scrambled eggs, all with added calcium plus D. My male is extremely active mating and I intend to get another female ASAP but haven’t as of yet. I would love to get as much information about them as I can. I would appreciate a return email!!
Thank you
Vicki
Hi Vicki,
It sounds like you’ve got a nice home set up for your box turtles! Feel free to explore this site more for general information on boxies. Since you’re in Alabama, you might also be interested in this page from the Alabama Wildlife Federation. It’s geared toward schools that use box turtles for educational purposes, but it looks like it has a lot of good information and links for anyone keeping boxies in Alabama.