Gopher Tortoise
Gopher tortoise belongs to the Gopherus genus, found in the southeastern United States. This herbivorous tortoise is regarded as a keystone species as the burrows dug by it provide shelter to hundreds of other animals in its habitat range.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Testudines |
| Suborder | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily | Testudinoidea |
| Family | Testudinidae |
| Genus | Gopherus |
| Scientific Name | Gopherus polyphemus |
| Size | 20 to 30 cm |
| Weight | Around 4 kg |
| Color | Overall color is dark brown to gray-black with yellow underside |
| Distribution | Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida |
| Habitat | Dry sandy uplands, scrub, pine flatwoods, coastal dunes |
| Diet | Wide variety of plants including grasses, legumes, fruits like gopher apple, blackberries, pawpaw, saw palmetto berries; flowers |
| Hibernation Fact | Hibernates during winter |
| Predators | Eggs are preyed upon by armadillos, raccoons, skunks, foxes, alligators |
| Breeding Season | April – November |
| Mode of Reproduction | Oviparous (egg laying) |
| Clutch Size | 1 to 25 eggs |
| Incubation Period | Around 100 days |
| Reproductive Age | 10 to 15 years of age |
| Average Lifespan | More than 40 years |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Vulnerable |
Gopher Tortoise Pictures Gallery
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- Baby Gopher Tortoise
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- Florida Gopher Tortoise
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- Gopher Tortoise Eggs
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- Gopher Tortoise Habitat
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- Gopher Tortoise Hole
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- Gopher Tortoise Images
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- Gopher Tortoise Pet
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- Gopher Tortoise Photos
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- Gopher Tortoise Pictures
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- Gopher Tortoise Range
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- Gopher Tortoise Shell
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- Gopher Tortoise
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- Gopher Tortoises
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- Images of Gopher Tortoise
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- The Gopher Tortoise
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- Gopherus Polyphemus
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- Gopher Tortoise Size
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- Baby Gopher Tortoise Care
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- Gopher Tortoise Care
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- Gopher Tortoise Diet
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- Gopher Tortoise Hatchlings
Published on October 29th 2016 by staff under Tortoises. Article was last reviewed on 7th June 2019.
