SREL Reprint #3201

Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise). Burrow Associate

Brett A. DeGregorio1, Kurt A. Buhlmann1, Andrew M. Grosse1, Bess B. Harris1, Robert V. Horan III1,
Tracey D. Tuberville1, and Brett M. Moule2

1Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina 29802, USA
2South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Columbia, South Carolina 29201, USA

Introduction: Gopherus polyphemus excavate and inhabit burrows in xeric, sandy habitats of the southeastern United States (Auffenberg and Franz 1982. In Bury [ed.], North American Tortoises: Ecology and Conservation, pp. 95-126. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildl. Res. Rep. 12). Because of the cool, moist microenvironment provided by tortoise burrows, a number of animals use them as refugia with 60 vertebrate and 302 invertebrate species documented utilizing burrows (Jackson and Milstrey. 1989. In et al. [eds.], Proceedings: Gopher Tortoise Relocation Symposium, pp. 86-98. Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, Florida). Although the Six-lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata) has been observed using tortoise burrows for refuge, it has never been reported to nest in tortoise burrows or the burrow aprons, the mound of excavated sand deposited outside the burrow entrance. Here we present six instances of A. sexlineata nesting in the aprons of burrows of G. polyphemus at the Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve, Aiken Co., South Carolina, USA.

SREL Reprint #3201

DeGregorio, B. A., K. A. Buhlmann, A. M. Grosse, B. B. Harris, R. V. Horan III, T. D. Tuberville, and B. M. Moule. 2011. Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise). Burrow Associate. Herpetological Review 42(3): 421.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).