Herpetofauna - One Life's List

Three-Toed Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina triunguis

Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis Co., Missouri.  Spring 1973
 
A family picnic in Jefferson Barracks Park led to the discovery of my first triunguis, crossing a trail in a patch of deep woods.  The 'Barracks' was close to my house, and subsequently I found dozens of Three Toes there - I can remember finding seventeen on a warm afternoon in late September.  It's always good to run across one of these old friends in the field.  The Three-Toe in the picture is one I have adopted, a turtle abandoned in east-central Illinois, hundred of miles from home.  Her color is one typical type of triunguis - horn-colored shell, bright markings on the head, neck, and face.  Many triunguis have an olive-green shell without pattern. The three toes in the name refer to the count on each hind foot, although sometimes they have four.
Return to Life List Index                    Return to Mike's Page