Internal Body Temperatures of an Overwintering Adult Terrapene carolina (Eastern Box Turtle)

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Northeastern Naturalist

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1656/045.023.0304· OSTI ID:1342643

Burke, Russell L. ^[1]; Calle, Paul P. ^[2]; Figueras, Miranda P. ^[1]; Green, Timothy M. ^[3]

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1. Hofstra Univ., Hempstead, NY (United States). Dept. of Biology
2. Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY (United States)
3. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)

Terrapene carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) is the only turtle species in which adults are known to be tolerant of freezing. We report the first systematically collected data on internal body temperatures of an overwintering Eastern Box Turtle. Despite nearby air temperatures as low as -21.8 °C, this turtle probably supercooled rather than froze. Snow cover, thermal inertia, and the insulating effects of its refugium’s substrate may have protected this turtle from the very cold conditions.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0012704
• OSTI ID: 1342643
• Report Number(s): BNL-113456-2017-JA
• Journal Information: Northeastern Naturalist, Vol. 23, Issue 3; ISSN 1092-6194
• Publisher: Eagle Hill Institute
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES