Coahuilan box turtle
| Coahuilan box turtle | |
|---|---|
| Coahuilan box turtle (Terrapene coahuila) at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | |
CITES Appendix I
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Emydidae |
| Genus: | Terrapene |
| Species: | T. coahuila
|
| Binomial name | |
| Terrapene coahuila | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Coahuilan box turtle (Terrapene coahuila), also known commonly as the aquatic box turtle, is an endangered species of turtle in the family Emydidae. Unlike the other members of the genus Terrapene, this turtle spends roughly 90% of its time in water.
It is a close relative to the common box turtle (Terrapene carolina). Researchers have therefore suggested that it developed from a nonaquatic species in order to survive in the desert springs of Cuatro Ciénegas.