Wood Turtle?

[Levi the Leopard]

My friend has this little turtle. Her husband's family has some free roaming in their backyard and every so often they come across eggs and/or hatchlings.

She always told me it was a box turtle but when I saw it recently for the 1st time I wasn't too sure that's what it was. The plastron has no "box/hinge". I did a little google search and I think it is a Wood Turtle but I get some conflicting info. I'd like your help to ID this little guy. She has had this turtle for 2 years. I couldn't believe how little it is. Is this normal? He is kept in a planted outdoor pen with a screen lid and is fed all sorts of little bugs and worms.

If I can positively ID what this is, I may get some for myself next time they hatch more.

thanks!

 

[Ripkabird98]

My friend has this little turtle. Her husband's family has some free roaming in their backyard and every so often they come across eggs and/or hatchlings.

She always told me it was a box turtle but when I saw it recently for the 1st time I wasn't too sure that's what it was. The plastron has no "box/hinge". I did a little google search and I think it is a Wood Turtle but I get some conflicting info. I'd like your help to ID this little guy. She has had this turtle for 2 years. I couldn't believe how little it is. Is this normal? He is kept in a planted outdoor pen with a screen lid and is fed all sorts of little bugs and worms.

If I can positively ID what this is, I may get some for myself next time they hatch more.

thanks!

I have wanted a wood for SO long.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

So was i right? This little guy is in fact a wood turtle??

 

[Itort]

Sorry to tell you but this is a three-toed box turtle. These are wood turtles.

 

[EricIvins]

No. That is a Box Turtle........

 

[GBtortoises]

It's a Box turtle, looks like possibly a Three-toed, Terrapene carolina triunguis. The plastral hinge on young box turtles are undeveloped.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Don't be sorry...I'm asking so I'll know
I was confused because i didn't see in a hinge...but that is interesting to know the hinge isn't developed when they are young.
When i saw pics of woods turtles with long tails i was even more confused because this one has a short tail.

So as a three toe box turtle is it the right size for being 2 years old??

 

[lisa127]

I have a 15 month old three toed box turtle that is captive bred and has been raised indoors so far. He/she is large for his age, about 4 inches SCL and 173 grams in weight. I can't tell the size of that turtle. Also, both of my box turtles had functional hinges at about a year old and by about 3 inches SCL.

 

[yagyujubei]

Yes, a three toed. Poke him in the nose a bit to see if he can close. I would bet he can, but is bold enough that he doesn't feel the need to. All of my yearlings have fully developed hinges. The split scutes are unusual for a wild box turtle.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

this guy is maybe 2inches. very small. and no hinge yet. the day i saw him and took these pictures i did everything to try and see if he would close. i even pushed on the plastron with my finger to see if there was a hinge...nope.

so i guess it just hasn't developed yet??

maybe size is the determining factor more so than age on when the hinge develops?

---

yes he is less than 2 inches. i just looked at the pics i posted and measured my hand in comparison.

 

[yagyujubei]

OK, he's still little. I seem to think that everyone's hand is the same size as mine. He was probably hatched last year. Now that he can get regular meals, I bet he will grow a bit this year.

 

[LuckysGirl007]

this guy is maybe 2inches. very small. and no hinge yet. the day i saw him and took these pictures i did everything to try and see if he would close. i even pushed on the plastron with my finger to see if there was a hinge...nope.

so i guess it just hasn't developed yet??

maybe size is the determining factor more so than age on when the hinge develops?

---

yes he is less than 2 inches. i just looked at the pics i posted and measured my hand in comparison.

---

Haha! Very creative!