Natural History of the Ornate Box Turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata AgassizLegler, John M.
Science
Natural History of the Ornate Box Turtle, Terrapene ornata ornata Agassiz
Legler, John M.
Ornate box turtle
Body temperatures were taken by means of a quick-reading Schultheis
thermometer inserted into the distal portion of the large intestine
with the bulb directed ventrally to avoid puncturing the bladder. Body
temperature of turtles were altered little or not at all in the few
seconds the turtles were held and no attempt was made (except for
small juveniles) to insulate them from the warmth of my hands. Data
recorded with body temperature were: air temperature (in shade,
approximately one inch from turtle); ground temperature (or water
temperature); behavior of turtle; weather conditions; nature of
vegetation or other cover; and, time of day. Unless otherwise noted,
temperatures are expressed in degrees Centigrade.
A maximum-minimum thermometer was installed near the buildings at the
Damm Farm. Notes on general weather conditions were made on each visit
to the study area. Additional climatological data were obtained from
the U. S. Weather Stations in Topeka and Lawrence, from records at the
Reservation, and from official bulletins of the U. S. Weather Bureau.
Stomachs and gonads were removed and preserved by standard techniques
soon after specimens were killed. The dates given to gonads were, in
all instances, the dates when the specimens were killed. Eggs were
prepared for incubation in the manner described by Legler (1956).
Females laying or containing eggs used in studies of incubation were
preserved for further studies and comparison with young hatched from
the eggs. Histological preparations were fixed in ten per cent
formalin or Bouin's fluid, embedded in paraffin, and stained with
hematoxalin and eosin.
Terminology
Names used for the epidermal and bony parts of the shell follow the
classification proposed by Carr (1952:35-39). The terms "scute,"
"lamina," and "scale" are used here more or less interchangeably for
the epidermal parts as are the terms "plate," "bone," and "element"
for the bony parts of the shell.
The term "form" is used here in the same sense that Stickel (1950:358)
used it in her study of _T. carolina_--to indicate a depression or
cavity made by a turtle in vegetation or soil. Forms correspond
closely in shape and size to shape and size of the turtle. Forms of
_T. ornata_ differ from those of _T. carolina_ chiefly in being made
most often in soil, over which there is a minimum of vegetational
cover. The term "den" refers to natural cavities (or cavities of
unknown origin) beneath rocks, in rock fences, or in cut banks. The
term "burrow," unless otherwise noted, refers to burrows made by
animals other than box turtles.
HABITAT AND LIMITING FACTORS
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