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Eastern Box Turtle Hatchlings

Terrapene carolina ssp. carolina

Photo by Musicwolf
Published on Project Noah
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34.4869, -79.1977

Field Notes

Description:

Only a little over an inch from head to tail. I found four, hours old, hatchlings. Two still had their egg tooth attached, one was still coming out of a hole in the ground where it's egg was buried. The first photo shows the still wet remains of this little one's yolk sack.

Habitat:

Mixed forest near a freshwater lake and wetlands.

Notes:

This is our state reptile. Amazing to find them obviously on their first day of life. I took a lot more photos, but these are some of my favorites.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (15)
Musicwolf
I added one more photo that clearly shows one of the egg-teeth.
Musicwolf
Thank you all for the favorites and comments. I've enjoyed sharing these little ones with all of you.
Tom15
Congrats on SOTD with this wonderful spotting!
AshleyT
Congrats! Must have been awesome to see these guys so early in life!
Musicwolf
Thanks so much for the SOTD :) You have no idea how happy I was when I logged on and saw that you chose this one today. I'm thrilled to be able to share my cool experience with everyone!
KarenL
What an adorable series! Congrats Musicwolf, you have earned a well-deserved Spotting of the Day! Measuring just over an inch in length and still with its egg tooth and the remains of its yolk sack, this newly hatched box turtle is Spotting of the Day! Facebook: https://upload.facebook.com/projectnoah/photos/a.10150595289465603.674700.10150120463815603/10154089776245603/?type=1&stream_ref=10 Twitter: https://twitter.com/projectnoah/status/461698323502891009
Musicwolf
Thank you Neil. I was beyond excited when I saw them!
Neil Ross
Now this is a brilliant spotting. How lucky you are to have been there to witness this. I'm envious :-)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Reptiles of the World
Mission
Animals of North Carolina
Mission
Turtles of the Southeast U.S.
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Mission
Wildlife of Robeson County, NC

Tags

Photographed
PublishedApril 27, 2014

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