petri.
← All creatures
NO. 053Ornate box turtle illustrationIllustration · not shown at life size

Reptile guests / Turtle

Ornate box turtle

Terrapene ornata

AdultA rare Wisconsin prairie turtle

Yellow lines fan across this turtle’s shell. Its sturdy little legs carry it through sandy prairie and open woodland.

Wisconsin’s native box turtle lives mainly in sandy habitats farther west. It is not a native southeastern Wisconsin neighborhood turtle.

Let’s look closer

Little clues

Three things to notice.

  1. Yellow rays across a dark shell.

  2. A hinged shell can close like a box.

  3. Lives on land, rather than in a pond.

Out in the world

Where it lives.

South-central and southwestern Wisconsin

Sandy prairies, oak savannas, and open woodland edges.

When to look

May be active from early spring into fall; burrows into well-drained soil for winter.

Watch quietly with a grownup. Leave wild turtles in their homes, and never bring one home as a pet.

A closer look

One clue is just the start.

The lower shell has a hinge that helps the turtle close itself inside. Unlike Wisconsin’s pond turtles, this box turtle spends its life on land.

This species faces a real conservation threat. Encounters depend on season and habitat.

Keep exploring

Meet the neighbors.

For curious grownups, too

Read a little further.

Original summaries, with references for deeper reading.

Make a creature disc

Artwork & downloads.

Drag a PNG image into xTool Studio, or use its download button. Images use the full-resolution files.

  • Ornate box turtle — Transparent front PNG

    Transparent front PNG

    76.2 mm canvas · white-outlined labels on a clear background

    053-front.png
    1800 × 1800 px

    Download PNG
  • Ornate box turtle — Relief depth PNG — prototype

    Relief depth PNG — prototype

    Matches this front · dark lettering 0.5 mm, outline 0.1 mm at 1 mm maximum

    053-height-disc.png
    1800 × 1800 px

    Download PNG
  • Ornate box turtle — Original artwork

    Original artwork

    Unmodified source PNG

    053-ornate-box-turtle.png
    1254 × 1254 px

    Download PNG

  • Editable front SVG

    Common & scientific names · finding clue · editable labels

    053-front.svg

    Download SVG

Front artwork is made for a 3-inch clear disc. Revised artwork still needs a physical check. Disc backs are blank; use the single carrier QR from the print studio to open the field guide.

Visit the print studio →