{{Taxobox
| name = Box Turtle
| image = Eastern Box Turtle.jpg
| status = NT | status_system = IUCN2.3
| regnum = Animalia
| phylum = Chordata
| classis = Reptilia
| ordo = Testudines
| familia = Emydidae
| genus = ''Terrapene''
| species = ''T. carolina''
| subspecies = '''''T. c. carolina'''''
| trinomial = ''Terrapene carolina carolina''
| trinomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758
}}

The '''Eastern Box Turtle''' (''Terrapene carolina carolina'') is a eastern box turtles. <ref> </ref>

== Description ==
Eastern box turtles have a high, orangish radiating pattern of lines, spots or blotches. irises) whereas females usually display brown eyes. Eastern box turtles feature a sharp, horny beak, stout limbs, and their feet are webbed only at the base. Staying small in size, males grow to up to seven inches, and females to about eight. In the wild, box turtles are known to live over 80 years, but in captivity, usually live only between 30-50. Virtually all turtles have a covering of scutes, or modified scales, over the bony shell. The number,size,form,and position of these scutes can help in identifying the turtle. Only in the soft-shelled turtles and leatherback sea turtles are obvious scutes absent, leaving skin to cover the bones.
thumb|Eastern Box Turtle in Florida|240px 

Eastern box turtles have many uniquely identifying characteristics which separate them from North American tortoises and water turtles.  While the female's plastron is flat, in males it is concave so the male may fit over the back end of the female's carapace during mating. The front and back of the plastron are connected by a flexible hinge.  When in danger, the turtle is able to close the plastron by pulling the hinged sections closely against the carapace, effectively sealing the soft body in bone.  The shell is made of bone covered by living vascularized tissue and covered with a layer of keratin. This shell is connected to the body through its fused rib cage which makes the shell permanently attached and not removable. 

When injured or damaged, the shell has the capacity to regenerate and reform. Granular tissue slowly forms and keratin slowly grows over the damaged area to replace damaged and missing scales. Unlike water turtles such as the native eastern painted turtle (''Chrysemys picta''), box turtle scutes continue to grow throughout the turtle's life and develop growth rings. Water turtles typically shed their scutes as they grow.
thumb|Two Adult Eastern Box Turtles|240px 
thumb|Adult male, Eastern Box Turtle|240px 
thumb|A Young Box Turtle|240px thumb|A tiny hatchling|240px
thumb|Tomlinson Run State Park WV|240px

<!-- Für Informationen zum Umgang mit dieser Tabelle siehe bitte Wikipedia:Taxoboxen. -->
{{Taxobox
| Taxon_Name       = Carolina-Dosenschildkröte
| Taxon_WissName   = Terrapene carolina carolina
| Taxon_Rang       = Unterart
| Taxon2_Name      = Gewöhnliche Dosenschildkröte
| Taxon2_WissName  = Terrapene carolina
| Taxon2_Rang      = Art
| Taxon3_Name      = Dosenschildkröten
| Taxon3_WissName  = Terrapene
| Taxon3_Rang      = Gattung
| Taxon4_Name      = Neuwelt-Sumpfschildkröten
| Taxon4_WissName  = Emydidae
| Taxon4_Rang      = Familie
| Taxon5_Name      = Halsberger-Schildkröten
| Taxon5_WissName  = Cryptodira
| Taxon5_Rang      = Unterordnung
| Taxon6_Name      = Schildkröten
| Taxon6_WissName  = Testudinata
| Taxon6_Rang      = Ordnung
| Bild             = Terrapene_fg01.jpg
| Bildbeschreibung = Carolina-Dosenschildkröte
}}

Die '''Carolina-Dosenschildkröte''' (''Terrapene carolina carolina'') ist eine Schildkröte, die seit mehr als einhundert Jahren auch als Haustier gehalten wird. 

==Lebensweise==

Sie bevorzugt feuchte Lebensräume wie Wiesen, Schwemmland oder feuchte Wälder. Morgens, vor allem nach einem Regen, ist sie sehr aktiv und sucht Nacktschnecken, Würmer, Pilze oder Beeren. Die Carolina-Dosenschildkröte ist ein Allesfresser. Um der Hitze zu entkommen, versteckt sie sich mittags und im Hochsommer im Schlamm. In den kalten Monaten hält sie eine Winterruhe.

==Fortpflanzung==

Die Weibchen können nach einer Paarung über mehrere Jahre befruchtete Eier legen. Hauptfeinde der Jungen sind verschiedene Säugetiere, zum Beispiel Waschbären und Greifvögel.

==Die "Dose"==
thumb|right|''Terrapene carolina''
thumb|right|''Terrapene carolina''

Der Vorderteil des Bauchpanzers hat ein Scharnier. Wenn die Schildkröte ihren Kopf einzieht, kann er angehoben und fest verschlossen werden. Somit ist das Tier geschützt wie in einer Dose.