Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is a small, terrestrial turtle native to the eastern United States, recognized by its domed shell with vivid yellow to orange markings on a dark background. Its hinged plastron allows it to fully close its shell for protection. Preferring moist forests and meadows, it feeds on a varied diet of insects, worms, fungi, berries, and plants. Eastern box turtles are long-lived, often reaching 40–50 years in the wild, and play an important role in forest ecosystems as seed dispersers and scavengers.