Terrapene coahuila Schmidt & Owens, 1944

Common Name & Aquatic Adaptation

Terrapene coahuila, commonly called the Coahuilan box turtle, has a body adapted to spending long periods in water, and its shell is often covered in algae.

Plastron Structure

Like other box turtles, it has a hinged plastron that can close completely.

Skin Coloration

Its skin is dark, most often dark brown or dark gray, and some areas of the skin can appear entirely black.

Endemic Range

This species is endemic to the area around Cuatro Ciénegas in Coahuila, Mexico.

Range Size

It lives in several separate isolated pockets within a total range smaller than 800 km² (300 sq mi).

Rainy Season Movement

During the rainy season, Coahuilan box turtles may leave their established home ranges and travel across the surrounding desert.

Mating Period & Habitat

Mating for this species occurs in shallow water between September and June.

Egg Laying & Clutch Size

Egg laying takes place from May to September, and eggs are deposited in small clutches that usually contain only 2 to 3 eggs each.