ABSTRACT
Most studies on wild ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata) estimate maximum age in the 30s with some data suggesting that individuals may live beyond 50. We present data from a 29-yr study of 374 marked turtles in which at least 44% lived into their 30s and at least 3.5% survived into their 40s. Females may survive longer than males. Older turtles can affect reproductive potential of the population; therefore, conservation and management for this state-threatened species should account for longer lifespans than previously assumed.
© 2023 Chelonian Research Foundation
2023
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