This is the most beautiful box turtle that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.
The Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata ornata) is a very interesting species. First of all, it is a terrestrial turtle, unlike so many other turtles that are aquatic. Also, it has a hinged shell that allows it to pull its head, tail, and legs into the shell and close it tight. This works well when a hungry raccoon or other predator comes along and tried to eat it.
It has a most interesting diet which includes all sorts of wild greens, berries, insects, and even dead animals. I once caught one eating a dead rabbit out in a field. They can live for almost 40 years, and their beauty makes them a candidate for the pet trade. Once, they were widely eaten by humans and in some areas, like Wisconsin, their numbers never fully recovered. It is still listed as an Endangered Species up in Wisconsin, and though we see them regularly here in Arkansas, I've never encountered one in the wild in Wisconsin.
Here are the photos from this shoot. I wet the turtle first to bring out the colors.
Just to liven things up a bit, here are a few original gifs.
As always, I'm 
and here's the proof:
proof-of-ornate-box-turtle
Until next time…
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