What am I?

[mctlong]

A coworker forwarded me this pic. Can anyone identify the species? It's the only pic I have. I have not seen it in person.

 

[Big Charlie]

A coworker forwarded me this pic. Can anyone identify the species? It's the only pic I have. I have not seen it in person.

I'm not seeing a picture.

 

[mctlong]

Apologies, it should be attached now.

 

[Stuart S.]

it looks like a box turtle, where are you located?

 

[mike taylor]

Looks to be a box turtle

 

[mctlong]

Thanks guys! Any idea what kind of box turtle? Sorry, the picture is not the best.

 

[ColleenT]

we need to know where you live to be able to tell you that.

 

[PJay]

Its kinda like trying to solve one of those math word problems that don't give enough information to actually solve, but I would make a guess that it's a Gulf Coast box turtle.

 

[Yvonne G]

I was going to say Terrapene carolina triunguis (and from the elongated shape, male), however, I really need to see more - side view, maybe some skin. The spots on the carapace are causing me some confusion.

 

[cdmay]

Looks like a gulf coastie to me. Terrapene carolina major.
The rear margins of the carapace flaring is a giveaway.

 

[Yvonne G]

Looks like a gulf coastie to me. Terrapene carolina major.
The rear margins of the carapace flaring is a giveaway.

I'll bet you're right. The head does look slightly bigger than a 3 toe head.

 

[PJay]

I've seen some pictures of box turtles out of Louisiana that have the carapace spotting and flaring rear marginals that people were identifying as either Gulf Coast or 3 Toed depending on who you ask. I've always associated the flared marginals with Gulf Coast and the spotting with Louisiana 3 Toed. Louisiana has both so maybe they are intergrades.

 

[mctlong]

it looks like a box turtle, where are you located?

we need to know where you live to be able to tell you that.

I didn't find it. From what I understand, it was found near Phoenix several years ago, lived as a pet in a backyard in Southern California up until today when it was given to a coworker of mine who forwarded me this pick. My coworker is adopting him.

 

[wellington]

@Anthony P @tortadise either one of these members should be able to give a positive ID

 

[lisa127]

Gulf coast box turtle

 

[lisa127]

I've seen some pictures of box turtles out of Louisiana that have the carapace spotting and flaring rear marginals that people were identifying as either Gulf Coast or 3 Toed depending on who you ask. I've always associated the flared marginals with Gulf Coast and the spotting with Louisiana 3 Toed. Louisiana has both so maybe they are intergrades.

My 6 year old c.b. Louisiana box turtle is an integrate of the two. Both her parents were the typical Louisiana spotted ones. Want to see how she turned out?....lol. at any rate, turtle in question is most certainly GC I'd say.

 

[PJay]

My 6 year old c.b. Louisiana box turtle is an integrate of the two. Both her parents were the typical Louisiana spotted ones. Want to see how she turned out?....lol. at any rate, turtle in question is most certainly GC I'd say. View attachment 214061

No spots! She is beautiful, I have a two year old Gulf that looks like it is developing into a tan with the dark scute patterns like she has.

 

[lisa127]

No spots! She is beautiful, I have a two year old Gulf that looks like it is developing into a tan with the dark scute patterns like she has.

Yeah, she looks nothing like her parents. I wonder how the other babies turned out.