Shell-ebrating the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina ssp. carolina) on #ReptileAwarenessDay!
❤️ This species is a hinge turtle, named for how the front and back of the plastron are connected by a flexible hinge. When threatened, the turtle can close its plastron by pulling the hinged sections against the carapace, creating a box-like barrier against predators. 📦
🐢 Observed in USA by Richard Coldiron CC BY-NC 4.0
💻 https://buff.ly/3ZOWMVt