Turtles are air-breathing animals that can survive for long periods in water.
The state of Texas is home to 28 species of turtles, with some of these species associated with a single river or tributary of a river. East Texas is home to turtles found throughout the state and certain species that are only found in the favorable habitat of the eastern portion of the state.
East
The area known as East Texas includes areas such as the Sabian Uplift Area, East Texas Basin and the Southland plains, according to The Handbook of Texas Online. East Texas ends at the coastal prairies and contains a variety of woodland and plains, including a southern area of East Texas containing longleaf pine trees stretching from East Texas to Louisiana. Apart from the southland plains, the majority of East Texas is covered by shortleaf pine and hardwood forests. East Texas can be classified as an area stretching from the Red River in north central Lamar County, east the area stretches to central Limestone County and south to Galveston Bay.
Map Turtles
A variety of species of Map Turtles are found throughout the state of Texas and some who make their homes solely in the eastern portion of the state of Texas. There are five species of Map Turtles found in East Texas: Mississippi Map Turtle, Ouachita Map Turtle, Sabine Map Turtle, Texas Map Turtle and Cagle's Map Turtle. Map Turtles are identified by the distinctive lines found on their bodies and across their shells, the species found in east Texas are limited in range to the eastern counties stretching west to Throckmorton and Shackelford Counties. The Ouachita Map Turtle is even more limited in range to the Red, Neches and Sabine River basins.
Box
East Texas is also home to a number of species of Box Turtles, with species such as the Three-Toed Box Turtle found only in East Texas with a range west to the counties of McCulloch and Kimble Counties. Three-Toed Box Turtles are identified by the three toes found on the animal's rear feet. Another species of Box Turtle found in East Texas is the Ornate Box Turtle that is only found in eastern and central regions of the state, the Ornate Box Turtle is not found in regions situated west of the Pecos River, west of the Pecos River a larger Box Turtle known as the Desert Box Turtle is usually located.
Others
Although rare in East Texas, the Midland Smooth Softshell Turtle can sometimes be found on sandbars within the region's rivers. The Common Snapping Turtle is found throughout Texas, including East Texas where it lives in lakes and streams with large amounts of vegetation. The eastern portion of Texas is also home to the Razorback Musk Turtle, which finds its natural habitat in slow-moving streams and ponds throughout East Texas.
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