Ornate box turtles are a common sight in the Nebraska sandhills, where they have a wide-ranging diet that includes invertebrates, fruits, leaves, and carrion.  Box turtles are named for the “hinge” in the bottom portion of their shell (the plastron), which allows them to pull their head and legs inside and close the shell tightly for protection.  They can live up to 30 years in the wild if they can avoid being hit by cars or collected as pets.

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The red eyes of this ornate box turtle show that it is a male (females have brown eyes). This one was in the Nebraska sandhills in the north central part of the state.

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For more information on ornate box turtles, you can click here to read a Forest Service report on the species.