Title
Internal Body Temperatures of an Overwintering Adult Terrapene carolina (Eastern Box Turtle)
Author(s)
Burke, Russell L.;Calle, Paul P.;Figueras, Miranda P.;Green, Timothy M.
Published
2016
Publisher
Northeastern Naturalist
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1656/045.023.0304
Abstract
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. 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.

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PUB19204