Terrapene carolina

You can find North Carolina’s official state reptile, the eastern box turtle, in all corners of the Old North State. In early summer, females lay eggs in shallow holes they dig. You can tell males and females apart by looking at the undersides of their shells, or the plastron. Females have flat plastrons, while males’ plastrons are concave. Males usually have bright red eyes while females’ eyes are yellow or brown. When you help a turtle cross the road, put it down in the direction it was headed—this may help these territorial critters fulfill their 60-year life span.

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N.C. State Symbols - Find out more about the eastern box turtle and North Carolina's 17 other state symbols.

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