Terrapene nelsoni
Spotted Box Turtle

    • Habitat:
      Oak savannas, tropical dry forests, and montane pine-oak forests
    • Threats:
      - Habitat destruction
      - Illegal collection for the pet trade
      - Prolonged drought
    • Conservation Efforts:
      - Protected from commercial collection and trade in Mexico
      - Population evaluation and monitoring
      - Ecological field studies
      - CITES Appendix II
    • Wild Population:
      Unknown
      One of North America's most understudied chelonians
    • Endangered Status:
      Data Deficient

Fast Facts

-Males commonly develop large bulbous heads and pronounced beaks, which they use for fighting over burrows, females, and territory.

-Brown carapace spattered with creamy yellow spots.

Species Snapshot

Spotted Box Turtles prefer oak savannas and pine-oak woodlands at higher elevations, but are also found in the tropical dry forest at lower elevations. They are terrestrial and associated with hill-slopes with complex understory vegetation. They have been documented eating dung beetles, mushrooms, and herbaceous vegetation.