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Definition of ornate box turtle

ornate box turtle

Plural:ornate box turtles
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ornate box turtle Lexical Profile

• noun

1

North American A relatively small, terrestrial turtle (Terrapene ornata) native to the Great Plains of the United States, distinguished by its domed shell marked with distinct yellow, radiating lines.

Example

"During our hike through the prairie grass, we carefully stepped around an ornate box turtle as it foraged for insects."

Word Origin & Etymology

The name reflects its highly patterned, decorative shell ('ornate') and its hinged plastron that allows the animal to pull its head and limbs inside and close tightly like a 'box'.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ornate box turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ornate box turtle
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