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Large Box Turtle

Cistudo major, (Agassiz)

Colouration

The carapace is dark brown, with yellow spots arranged in radiating fashion, while there is a yellow band on the keel. The greater part of the plastron is yellow, although the edges of the shields are tinged with black. On the head is a considerable amount of yellow markings.

Distribution

Florida and Georgia, westward to the Rio Grande.

The name of this species is quite appropriate. It attains the greatest size of any of the box turtles--growing to a length of seven inches. The carapace is high and globular and flares out distinctly on the rear margin. There is a blunt keel in the centre. As this species has four claws on the hind foot, it may be readily distinguished from Baur's Box Turtle, into the range of which it enters in the east.