What is the Kansas state turtle?

What is the Kansas state turtle?

the ornate box turtle
Box turtles are fascinating animals, rivaling the beauty of any turtle in the world. This is one reason why the ornate box turtle is the state reptile of Kansas.

Is it illegal to keep a box turtle in Kansas?

It is illegal in Kansas to take turtles from the wild to keep as pets. Unlike the state reptile of New York (the snapping turtle), the ornate box turtle can completely withdraw its legs, tail, head and neck into a sturdy shell, which protects the turtle from predators such as coyotes, raccoons, and foxes.

What state has identified the ornate box turtle as the official state reptile?

Kansas has selected the ornate box turtle as its official state reptile.

Are box turtles legal pets?

Box turtles are not easy to care for or low-maintenance pets. It is also important to realize that, in most states, it is illegal to take a box turtle from the wild and keep it in captivity. Wild populations are dwindling, so they are protected in most states.

Why are Ornate box turtles endangered?

What makes these critters endangered? As the ornate box turtle’s habitat has been broken up by roads, agriculture and development, the turtles not only have less available habitat, but they also have more encounters with people.

When was the box turtle discovered?

The oldest finds of fossilized box turtles were found in Nebraska (U.S.), date from about 15 million years before present (in the Miocene) and resemble the aquatic species T.

Do ornate box turtles live in water?

If an ornate box turtle does end up in deep water by accident, it can still swim well. They have fat deposits under their shells that makes them float. In fact, they are actually hard to submerge. Don’t place a box turtle in deep water as an experiment though.

Why are ornate box turtles endangered?

Where are ornate box turtles found in Kansas?

Ornate Box Turtle. The ornate box turtle is found in the prairies of western Kansas to the forests of eastern Kansas. It is the most visibly abundant turtle in Kansas. The ornate box turtle is also a dryland turtle, which means that it spends its life on land and not in the water.

Where do turtles lay their eggs in Kansas?

Turtles can move only their head, neck, legs, and tail. All turtles in Kansas lay their eggs on land, in sand or soft soil. The eggshell keeps the growing turtle from getting too dry. Between two and 50 eggs are laid in each clutch.

Where does the ornate box turtle spend its life?

The ornate box turtle is also a dryland turtle, which means that it spends its life on land and not in the water. During the 30 to 50 years of its life it spends a large amount of time crawling through fields, across backyards, and in the woods.