Spotted box turtle

The spotted box turtle (Terrapene nelsoni) is a species of turtle in the family Emydidae. The species is endemic to the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico.

Spotted box turtle
Terrapene nelsoni nelsoni seen in Nayarit, Mexico
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Emydidae
Genus:	Terrapene
Species:	T. nelsoni
Binomial name
Terrapene nelsoni Stejneger, 1925
Synonyms[3]
Terrapene nelsoni nelsoni Terrapene nelsoni Stejneger, 1925 Terrapene nelsoni nelsoni — Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Terrepene nelsoni — Pawley, 1971 Terapene nelsoni — Nietzke, 1973 Terrapene nelsoni klauberi Terrapene klauberi Bogert, 1943 Terrapene nelsoni klauberi — Mertens & Wermuth, 1955 Terapene klauberi — Nietzke, 1973

Etymology

The specific name, nelsoni, is in honor of American biologist Edward William Nelson.^[4]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies (listed in alphabetical order by subspecific name).^[5]

• Northern spotted box turtle (Terrapene nelsoni klauberi) Bogert, 1943
• Southern spotted box turtle (Terrapene nelsoni nelsoni) Stejneger, 1925