Three-toed Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina triunguis
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- T. c. triunguis – Montgomery Co, TX – photo by Matt Hollanders
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Terrapene c. triunguis occurs throughout east Texas
LEGAL STATUS: No listings
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Terrapene carolina triunguis (Agassiz – 1857)
Genus: Terrapene, derived from Native American word for turtle
Species: carolina, Carolina — ref. area originally discovered
Subspecies: triunguis, Latin – tri = three + unguis = claws — ref. normal presence of three toes on hind feet
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962