The Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina), also known as the common box turtle, is a species of turtle with six existing subspecies. It is found throughout the eastern United States and Mexico. The box turtle has a distinctive hinged lowered shell (the box) that allows it to completely enclose itself. Its upper jaw is long and curved. The turtle is primarily terrestrial and eats a wide variety of plants and animals. The females lay their eggs in the summer. Box turtles usually live 25-30 years, with some living 40-50. Rarely, they may even live over 100 years. Turtles in the northern part of their range hibernate over the winter. Box turtle numbers are declining because of habitat loss, roadkill, and capture for the pet trade. The species is classified as Vulnerable to threats to its survival by the IUCN Red List. Three U.S. states name subspecies of the box turtle as their official reptile.
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