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Definition of ornate box turtle
ornate box turtle
Plural:ornate box turtles
• 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."
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ornate box turtle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ornate-box-turtle