The color pattern is extremely variable. The carapace is predominately dark brown to black and keeled. It is most commonly streaked with yellow. Though it can have red and orange blotches as well. The plastron ranges from yellow to black...with or without patterns. The skin is dark with yellow to red blotches. Some males have a reddish ting resembling sun burn. They usually have 4 toes on the hind feet, but at times have 3...... Individuals at the edge of their range frequently mate with other subspecies making a positive identification almost impossible.

Housing - Care in captivity should mimic its natural habitat as much as possible. Ideally they should be kept in large turtle table or waterland tub.It should be as large as space will allow.

Diet - 60% or more of the diet is composed of animal matter. Essentially, if they can catch it, they will eat it. The rest is plant matter. A large part of which is fungi (mushrooms etc). Moss, berries and grass are also eaten. We use Box turtle diet, Feeders, and salad. See our vegetable chart for appropriate food. Vegetables and fruit should be mixed and of high nutrient content. Excellent choices include tomatoes, bananas, cantaloupes and other melons, berries, prickly pear fruits, grapes, corn, yams, mustard greens, collards, endive, dandelions, and mushrooms.