MOVEMENTS
The only previous study of movements of T. ornata is that of Fitch (1958:99-101). He recovered 14 marked T. ornata at the Reservation a total of 30 times, the period between recaptures varying from one to seven years. He reported that the average radius of home range was 274 feet (for an area of approximately 5.4 acres), excluding a single (presumably gravid) female that moved 1830 feet in 53 days.
Although published information on T. ornata is scant, a considerable amount of information is available concerning its congener, T. carolina. The classic studies of Stickel (1950) on it constitute the most complete account of populations and movements for any reptile or amphibian, and probably, for any vertebrate. She found the average home range of adults to be 350 feet in diameter. Home ranges were not defended as territories and nearly all individuals were socially tolerant of one another. Movements (studied by means of a thread-trailing device) were characterized by frequent travel over the same routes within the home range. Some turtles concentrated their activities in only one part of the home range, moving subsequently to another part, and some turtles had two ranges between which they traveled at varying intervals. Females ordinarily left their home ranges to nest.
Other noteworthy, but less detailed, studies of populations of T. Carolina are those of Breder (1927) who found evidence of home range and homing behavior, and of Nichols (1939b) who, after observing a marked population on Long Island over a period of twenty years, found evidence of homing behavior and estimated normal home range to be approximately 250 yards in diameter. Numerous shorter papers such as those of Schneck (1886) and Medsger (1919) document the tendency of T. carolina to remain in restricted areas over long periods.
Important studies that indicate the presence of home range and homing behavior in other chelonians are those of Cagle (1944) on Pseudemys scripta and Chrysemys picta, and of Woodbury and Hardy (1948) on Gopherus agassizi. Grant (1936) and Bogert (1937) have also indicated that movements of individuals of Gopherus agassizi are restricted to limited areas.
Locomotion
Ornate box turtles moving forward over even terrain hold the plastron a quarter to a half inch above the ground and keep the head and neck lowered and extended. Each foreleg is brought forward and the humerus points nearly straight ahead when the foot touches the ground. Nearly all of the palmar surface is initially in contact with the ground but as the body is brought forward and the humerus swings outward, only the claws, and finally, only the two inner claws are in contact with the ground. Of the hind feet, the medial surfaces are the principal parts that touch the ground but some traction is derived from the hind claws at the beginning of each cycle of the hind leg. Under normal conditions, box turtles move slowly and pause to rest and examine their surroundings every few feet. When resting, the plastron is in contact with the ground, the legs relaxed, and the head and neck are extended upward. Some turtles seeking shelter from the heat of sunshine walk rapidly for a hundred feet or more without pausing.
Turtles seen feeding under natural conditions displayed remarkable agility in making lunges, consisting of one or two short steps and a thrust of the head, at moving objects. Turtles kept in my home were able, after being conditioned to hand-feeding, quickly to intercept a grape rolled slowly across a linoleum-covered floor.
Frederick R. Gehlbach told me that, of several species of captive turtles observed by him, T. ornata characteristically walked with the plastron held well above the substrate, as did Gopherus berlandieri, but that T. carolina (specimens from the northeastern U. S.) dragged their shells as they walked. Apparently T. carolina in Kansas (currently referred to the subspecies triunguis) differs somewhat in gait from populations in the eastern part of the range; several individuals of T. carolina from Kansas that I observed in captivity, kept their plastra raised well above the smooth, hard substrate over which they walked.
Box turtles at the Damm Farm were able easily to climb ravine banks that sloped at an angle of 45 degrees and, with some difficulty, could climb banks as steep as 65 degrees. Most individuals, however, were reluctant to walk directly downward on banks as steep as 45 degrees. Several individuals were seen to lose footing when climbing up or down a steep bank and to roll or slide to the bottom. Ordinarily, T. ornata is able to climb over a sheer surface as high as its shell is long, provided the surface is rough enough to give some traction to the foreclaws. The claws of first one, then the other forefoot are placed over the top of the barrier and then a hind foot, extended as far forward as possible, secures a hold as the turtle goes over the barrier.