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Ornate Box Turtle — printable fact sheet
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Ornate Box Turtle
Terrapene ornata
The Ornate Box Turtle is a small, terrestrial turtle native to the central United States, easily recognized by its domed shell adorned with yellow lines radiating from the center of each dark brown scute. Adapted to life on land, this species prefers open grasslands and prairies…
Did you know?
- Ornate Box Turtles can survive periods of drought by burrowing underground and entering a state of dormancy called estivation.
- Ornate Box Turtles can completely close their shell to protect themselves from predators. Unlike many other turtles, they are quite terrestrial and rarely enter water except to drink or during extreme heat. Each individual's shell pattern is unique, much like a fingerprint.
What I learned
Draw the ornate box turtle
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