Eastern box turtle

== Reproduction ==

== Reproduction ==

Reproduction for the eastern box turtle can occur at any point throughout the late spring, summer, and early fall months, but egg laying is most likely to occur in May and June, when rain is frequent. After finding a mate (there is no [[pair bond]]ing, and mate-finding mechanisms are unclear), which can be a difficult task in areas where mates are sparse, the couple will embark on a three-phase courtship event. Following fertilization, the female finds an appropriate nesting site. Nest site selection is vital to egg development, as predation and temperature are primary concerns. Temperature affects the sex of offspring ([[Temperature-dependent sex determination|Type I temperature-dependent sex determination]]), developmental rate, and possibly fitness. Females will use their hind feet to dig a shallow nest in loose soil; this process can take two to six hours. Eggs are generally deposited shortly after the digging phase, and each egg is deployed into a particular position. Eggs are oblong, {{convert|3|cm|abbr=on}} long, creamy white, and leathery. Nests are then concealed with grass, leaves, or soil.{{Cite journal|last=Congello|first=Karin|year=1978|title=Nesting and egg laying behavior in Terrapene carolina|journal=Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science|volume=52|pages=51–56}} A female can lay anywhere from 1 to 5 clutches of about 1 to 9 eggs in a single year, or even delay laying her clutch if resources are scarce. There is a theory that clutch size increases with latitude, but more studies are needed to confirm this.Willey, & Sievert, P. R. (2012). Notes on the Nesting Ecology of Eastern Box Turtles near the Northern Limit of their Range. Northeastern Naturalist, 19(3), 361–372. Females exhibit delayed fertility, wherein sperm can be stored in oviducts for several years until conditions are favorable for fertilization and laying. Incubation ranges widely depending on temperature, but averages 50 to 70 days.{{Cite journal|last=Burke|first=Russell L.|year=2011|title=Nesting ecology and hatching success of the eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina, on Long Island, New York|journal=The American Midland Naturalist|volume=165|issue=1 |pages=137–142|doi=10.1674/0003-0031-165.1.137|bibcode=2011AMNat.165..137B |s2cid=85210016}}

Reproduction for the eastern box turtle can occur at any point throughout the late spring, summer, and early fall months, but egg laying is most likely to occur in May and June, when rain is frequent. After finding a mate (there is no [[pair bond]]ing, and mate-finding mechanisms are unclear), which can be a difficult task in areas where mates are sparse, the couple will embark on a three-phase courtship event. Following fertilization, the female finds an appropriate nesting site. Nest site selection is vital to egg development, as predation and temperature are primary concerns. Temperature affects the sex of offspring ([[Temperature-dependent sex determination|Type I temperature-dependent sex determination]]), developmental rate, and possibly fitness. Females will use their hind feet to dig a shallow nest in loose soil; this process can take two to six hours. Eggs are generally deposited shortly after the digging phase, and each egg is deployed into a particular position. Eggs are oblong, {{convert|3|cm|abbr=on}} long, creamy white, and leathery. Nests are then concealed with grass, leaves, or soil.{{Cite journal|last=Congello|first=Karin|year=1978|title=Nesting and egg laying behavior in Terrapene carolina|journal=Proceedings of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science|volume=52|pages=51–56}} A female can lay anywhere from 1 to 5 clutches of about 1 to 9 eggs in a single year, or even delay laying her clutch if resources are scarce. After laying a clutch, box turtle hatchlings have been observed hatching in the fall, as well as overwintering and hatching in early spring.Delayed Emergence of Hatchling Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) in Northeastern Tennessee, USA There is a theory that clutch size increases with latitude, but more studies are needed to confirm this.Willey, & Sievert, P. R. (2012). Notes on the Nesting Ecology of Eastern Box Turtles near the Northern Limit of their Range. Northeastern Naturalist, 19(3), 361–372. Females exhibit delayed fertility, wherein sperm can be stored in oviducts for several years until conditions are favorable for fertilization and laying. Incubation ranges widely depending on temperature, but averages 50 to 70 days.{{Cite journal|last=Burke|first=Russell L.|year=2011|title=Nesting ecology and hatching success of the eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina, on Long Island, New York|journal=The American Midland Naturalist|volume=165|issue=1 |pages=137–142|doi=10.1674/0003-0031-165.1.137|bibcode=2011AMNat.165..137B |s2cid=85210016}}

They have very low reproductive success. Females can lay fertile eggs up to four years after a successful mating.

They have very low reproductive success. Females can lay fertile eggs up to four years after a successful mating.