Species:
Terrapene ornata
Ornate Box Turtle
Some other names for this species:
Western Box Turtle
Subspecies I've seen:
Subspecies:
Terrapene ornata luteola
Desert Box Turtle
August 7, 2004
San Pedro Riparian Conservation Area, Cochise County, Arizona
This pretty little turtle was plodding across dried mud near the San Pedro river, surprisingly quickly for a turtle. It stopped still for awhile when it saw me approach, so I got a few photos in. Then it was off to the turtle races once more.
Subspecies:
Terrapene ornata ornata
Ornate Box Turtle
May 7, 2006
Vogel Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Otero County, Colorado
I was hoping to see lizards and snakes on a morning hike at Vogel Canyon, but I wasn't thinking about turtles until we saw this one minding its own turtle business alongside the trail. You gotta love the glowing red eyes.