Archiv/Abstracts 2009

Schildkröten im Fokus, Bergheim 6 (2) 2009: 30-34

Jaco Bruekers, Heeswijk-Dinther, The Netherlands

Beobachtung an Wüsten-Dosenschildkröten, Terrapene ornata luteola, in ihrer natürlichen Umgebung in New Mexico

Observations of desert box turtles Terrapene ornata luteola in their natural habitat in New Mexico

Abstract

The author describes his observations on Terrapene ornata luteola during a trip to New Mexico, USA, at the end of August 2007. This article focuses on a dry habitat south of Belen where he found two Terrapene ornata luteola in a dessert like landscape. The vegetation consist of Opuntia cacti (O. erinacea, O. cymochila), Yucca glauca, Artemisia filifolia and grasses. Sympatric lizard species that he found were: Uta stansburiana, Aspidoscelis neomexicana and Gambelia wislizenii. In August the rains can be intense and create temporary pools.
Both ornate box turtles had striking plastron markings. The author found grasshoppers (Melanoplus bowditchi), preying mantis (Stagmomantis californica) and a few big centipedes (Scolopendra polymorpha). The question is whether or not these invertebrates are a food source for Terrapene.

Key words

Testudines: Emididae, Terrapene ornata luteola, habitat, fauna and flora, New Mexico, USA

Author

Jaco Bruekers
E-Mail: fam.bruekers@home.nl

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