Terrestrial. Carapace forms rounded dome and is typically plain brown, though sometimes with a radiating pattern. Plastron plain, though sometimes with dark marks outlining scutes. Hind foot with three—sometimes four—toes. Juveniles with prominent middorsal keel. 
Arkansas Herpetological Atlas 2019
This species is represented by 974 records from 36 sources: 498 museum (
), 0 literature (
), 0 research (
), and 423 observation (
), with 53 additional Trauth et al. (2004) locality points remaining unsourced (
). It has been museum vouchered for 72 of 75 counties (), with 2 additional counties having other forms of reported occurrence (). Years of collection range from 1892 to present.
This species is common statewide. The Terrapene carolina / triunguis complex has presented taxonomic challenges, with T. carolina having reported morphological influence from occasional specimens in southeast Arkansas (Tumlison and Rocconi, 2000).
Addendum (2022): Since publication, additional corroborating evidence of established occurrence of T. carolina comes from the vicinity of Helena-West Helena, possibly as a result of transplantation.
