box turtle

box turtle
A turtle of the genus Terrapene (the North American box turtles), or of Cuora or Pyxidea (the Asian box turtles), characterised by having a domed shell that is hinged at the bottom, allowing the animal to close its shell tightly to escape predators.

Wikipedia foundation.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Box turtle — Turtle Tur tle, n. [Probably the same word as the word preceding, and substituted (probably by sailors) for the Spanish or Portuguese name; cf. Sp. tortuga tortoise, turtle, Pg. tartaruga, also F. tortue, and E. tortoise.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Box turtle — Box Box, n.; pl. {Boxes} [As. box a small case or vessel with a cover; akin to OHG. buhsa box, G. b[ u]chse; fr. L. buxus boxwood, anything made of boxwood. See {Pyx}, and cf. {Box} a tree, {Bushel}.] 1. A receptacle or case of any firm material… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • box turtle — ☆ box turtle or box tortoise n. any of several North American terrapins (genus Terrapene) with a hinged shell that can be completely closed: usually found on land …   English World dictionary

  • Box turtle — Taxobox name = Box Turtle image width = 250px image caption = Florida Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina bauri regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Reptilia ordo = Testudines familia = Emydidae subdivision ranks = Genera subdivision = Cuora… …   Wikipedia

  • box turtle — any of several chiefly terrestrial turtles of the genus Terrapene, of North America, having a hinged plastron that can be tightly shut to enclose and protect the body. Also called box tortoise. See illus. under turtle. [1795 1805, Amer.] * * *… …   Universalium

  • box turtle — noun chiefly terrestrial turtle of North America; shell can be closed tightly • Syn: ↑box tortoise • Hypernyms: ↑turtle • Hyponyms: ↑Western box turtle, ↑Terrapene ornata • Member Holony …   Useful english dictionary

  • box turtle — box′ tur tle n. ram any chiefly terrestrial North American turtle of the genus Terrapene, having a hinged shell that can be tightly shut. Also called box′ tor toise • Etymology: 1795–1805, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • box turtle — noun a land living turtle having a lower shell with hinged lobes that can be drawn up tightly. [Genus Terrapene: several species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • box turtle — noun Date: circa 1804 any of several North American land turtles (genus Terrapene) capable of withdrawing into their shell and closing it by hinged joints in the lower half called also box tortoise …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Ornate box turtle — This article is about the subspecies Terrapene ornata ornata. For the subspecies Terrapene ornata, see Terrapene ornata. Ornate box turtle Conservation status …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”