Gopher tortoise
The gopher tortoise is a species native to the southeastern United States, known for its impressive burrowing ability, which allows it to create tunnels that can extend up to 40 feet. These tortoises possess hard, protective shells composed of a carapace on their backs and a plastron on their bellies, typically featuring dark brown to grayish-black coloration. They grow to be between six and 16 inches long and weigh between eight and 13 pounds. Gopher tortoises inhabit dry, sandy soils where forests meet grasslands, ranging from South Carolina to Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico. As omnivores, they forage for a diet that includes grasses, leaves, fruits, and insects, while being vigilant against predators like skunks and snakes.
One of the major threats to gopher tortoises is habitat loss due to human development, leading to their classification as threatened or vulnerable in some regions, and even endangered in others. They breed from February to September, with a peak in May to July, and females lay clutches of five to nine eggs after mating. The eggs incubate for 70 to 100 days before hatching, with young tortoises becoming independent immediately. Gopher tortoises have a longevity of 40 to 60 years, living even longer in captivity, and they are protected under U.S. law.
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Gopher tortoise
The gopher tortoise is native to the southeastern United States. Gopher tortoises have been given the name gopher for their ability to dig in the ground like gophers. They have been known to dig burrows, or tunnels, that are up to 40 feet (12 meters) long.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Gopherus
Species: Polyphemus
Gopher tortoises have hard, protective, outer shells. These two-part shells cover the tortoises' softer body parts. The parts of the shells covering the tortoises' backs are called carapaces, and the parts of the shells covering their bellies are called plastrons. Carapaces and plastrons are held together by a bridge of tiny bones which extends upward from the plastrons. Gopher tortoises have dark brown to grayish-black carapaces and yellowish plastrons. Their skin is grayish black on their heads and limbs and yellowish around the sockets where their limbs go into their shells. Gopher tortoises grow to be between six and 16 inches (15 and 41 centimeters) long. They generally weigh between eight and 13 pounds (3 1/2 and six kilograms).
Gopher tortoises live in the dry, sandy soil where the forests meet the grasslands. They are found along the southeastern coast of the United States from South Carolina to Florida and a long the coastal plains of the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Louisiana. They are interesting tortoises in that they dig underground burrows, or tunnels, in which to live.
Gopher tortoises are omnivorous, which means they eat meat and plants. While foraging for grass, leaves, fruits, bones, charcoal, and insects, the tortoises keep a watchful eye for predators such as skunks, raccoons, and snakes. If they are afraid, they may decide to pull all of their limbs inside of their shells to protect themselves. Unfortunately, the main threat to gopher tortoises is not something from which they can protect themselves. Human development is destroying their natural habitats.
Gopher tortoises mate between February and September, with the peak mating period between May and July. Male gopher tortoises attract the females by walking around them while bobbing their heads up and down and from side to side. If the females accept the males' advances, the tortoises mate. A few days after mating each female lays a clutch, or batch, of five to nine round eggs in a hole. After the female has laid her eggs, she has no further contact with her offspring. The period between the laying and the hatching of the eggs is called the incubation period. This period lasts between 70 and 100 days. After the eggs hatch, the hatchlings, young tortoises, survive independently.
Gopher tortoises have a life span of between 40 and 60 years. They may live much longer in captivity. In some areas, the gopher tortiose is listed as a threatened or vulnerable species, while in other areas it is considered endangered. All gopher tortoises are protected by the government of the United States.
Bibliography
Friedman, Steve. “Gopher Tortoise Facts and Conservation.” The Nature Conservancy, 30 June 2022, www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/animals-we-protect/gopher-tortoise. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.
“Gopher Tortoise.” Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2024, myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/gopher-tortoise. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.