Taxonomy and Genetics
The genus name Terrapene was coined by Merrem in 1820 as a separate genus from the Emydes for those species which had a sternum which was separated into two or three divisions and which could move these parts independently. He placed in this genus amongst others Terrapene boscii (now accepted to be Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum) and Terrapene carolina (but under the name Terrapene clausa). Also several Asian box turtles have been (mis)classified within the genus Terrapene: e.g. Terrapene bicolor (now Cuora amboinensis couro) and Terrapene culturalia (now Cuora flavomarginata). Currently four species are classified within the genus and twelve taxa are distinguished:
- Common box turtle, Terrapene carolina (type species)
- Florida box turtle, Terrapene carolina bauri
- Eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina
- Gulf Coast box turtle, Terrapene carolina major
- Mexican box turtle, Terrapene carolina mexicana
- Terrapene carolina putnami (extinct)
- Three-toed box turtle, Terrapene carolina triunguis
- Yucatán box turtle, Terrapene carolina yucatana
- Coahuilan box turtle, Terrapene coahuila
- Spotted box turtle, Terrapene nelsoni
- Northern spotted box turtle, Terrapene nelsoni klauberi
- Southern spotted box turtle, Terrapene nelsoni nelsoni
- Ornate box turtle (or: Western box turtle), Terrapene ornata,
- Ornate box turtle (or: Western box turtle), Terrapene ornata ornata
- Desert box turtle, Terrapene ornata luteola
Box turtles have diploid somatic cells with 50 chromosomes.
Read more about this topic: Box Turtle