Common Name
ornate box turtle

Iowa Range
southern Iowa

Habitat
open prairies

Description
The carapace is ornately patterned, hence the ornate box turtle's name. The carapace possess light lines that radiate downward from three centers on each side of the shell. Five to nine lines also appear of the second costal scute. These lines may be broken into spots. The plastron may be as long or longer than the carapace. The males can be distingished by their orange-red eyes.