Gopher tortoise
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Physical features
Gopher tortoises are usually uniformly gray or brown. Hatchlings are lighter in color.
The front limbs are very flat and act as shovels so the tortoise can make it’s burrow which can be over 30 feet long and be up to 10 feet below the ground.
Like all turtles and tortoises, gopher tortoises have no teeth. Instead they have a sharp beak that is mildly serrated on the edge for shearing plant material.
Range and Habitat
Range – Southeastern USA
Habitat – Sandhills, Longleaf pine/wiregrass, Coastal scrub
Diet: Herbivore
Wild – grasses and other vegetation
Zoo – Leafy greens, grasses, and vegetables
Lifespan
Wild – Over 40 years
Zoo – Over 40 years
Reproduction
Gopher tortoises breed and lay eggs in Spring and Summer.
Incubation takes 90-100 days.
Conservation: Vulnerable
Protection of gopher tortoises is essential to their entire ecosystem. They are known as a keystone species, which means other animals depend on them for survival. The extensive burrows that they make are used by over 100 different species of animals.
Habitat loss by conversion of land for agriculture is a major threat.
Many are hit by vehicles while crossing roads.
This species has been impacted by gassing of their burrows to collect rattlesnakes for Rattlesnake Round-ups. While the snakes usually flee the gas fumes, the tortoise usually dies from inhalation inside the burrow.
Interpretive Information
The gopher tortoise is Georgia’s state reptile.
This species is territorial and very rarely is a burrow occupied by more than one tortoise at a time.
Gopher tortoises are important seed dispersers.