box turtle
Domed land chelonian
A box turtle is a North American land turtle with a domed shell and hinged lower shell that closes completely, allowing the turtle to withdraw entirely and "box" itself in for protection.
Box turtles are slow-moving, long-lived, and commonly kept as pets.
We found a box turtle crossing the road.
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
- plastronVentral shell portion
- scutesHorny epidermal plates
- keratinStructural hair protein
- dome-shapedCurved like half-globe
scales · claws · beak · growth rings · vertebrae · shell · backbone · epidermal
Turtle family member
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
- vertebrateSpinal column animal
- oviparousReproducing through external eggs
Seeking wild food sources
- burrowingDigging to create shelter
- baskingWarming oneself pleasantly
- hidingStaying out of sight
- territorialDefensive about owned space
homing instinct · omnivorous · diurnal · slow-moving · nesting · egg-laying · courtship
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- wildlife tradeCommerce in wild animals
poaching · protection · sanctuary · captive breeding · relocation · population decline · pet trade · preservation
Ground beneath trees
- woodlandForested land area
- meadowGrassy field for grazing
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
underbrush · burrow · soil · substrate · thicket · garden · fallen logs · temperate
Enduring the cold months
- torporInactive, sluggish state
- dormancySuspended biological activity
- denningRetiring to lair
- cold-bloodedUnfeeling or externally heated
temperature drop · subterranean · quiescence · energy conservation · seasonal cycle · hibernaculum · ectothermic
carapace
Protective dorsal exoskeleton
dome-shaped · scales · claws · beak · growth rings · vertebrae · shell · backbone · epidermal · calcium
chelonian
Turtle family member
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- herpetologyStudy of reptiles, amphibians
- vertebrateSpinal column animal
foraging
Seeking wild food sources
territorial · homing instinct · omnivorous · diurnal · slow-moving · nesting · egg-laying · courtship
endangered
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
wildlife trade · poaching · protection · sanctuary · captive breeding · relocation · population decline · pet trade · preservation · CITES
forest floor
Ground beneath trees
leaf litter · underbrush · burrow · soil · substrate · thicket · garden · fallen logs · temperate · deciduous forest
overwintering
Enduring the cold months
cold-blooded · temperature drop · subterranean · quiescence · energy conservation · seasonal cycle · hibernaculum · ectothermic
- pet turtles
- petsdog, dogs, cats, puppy, kitten
- reptileslizard, snake, crocodile, alligator, python
- North American Naturebald eagle, American bison, bison, grizzly bear, raccoon
- cold-blooded animalsalligator, crocodile, lizard, snake, frog
- Eastern wildlifewhite-tailed deer, raccoon, red fox, gray squirrel, chipmunk
box turtlesea turtle
Ocean-dwelling shelled reptile
marine turtle · leatherback turtle · green sea turtle · loggerhead turtle · softshell turtle
box, boxing, turtle, boxes, boxer, boxed, turtles, boxers, inbox