Whether gliding through the open ocean or trudging across desert plains, turtles can be found in almost every ecosystem around the world, including in national parks, which support habitats for many species. Speaking of turtles, the box turtle is one restless reptile, often found moving (at a sensible pace) across fields or even roads throughout much of the central and eastern U.S. The Box turtle has one of the best protection systems around — a hinged bottom shell that allows it to ‘box’ itself in for protection against predators. This hinged bottom shell folds up, completely closing the shell. Its shell is also the easiest way to tell the turtle’s age — just count the rings on the scutes (bony external plates) of the shell to get an estimation. Image: A box turtle on a wooded trail at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, AL. #WorldTurtleDay #turtle #nature #nationalparks #boxturtle