lizards thicket menu Gopher Tortoise

Gopher Tortoise
(Gopherus polyphemus)

STATUS: Threatened. Greatly reduced from historic abundance; locally common in only a few protected areas. Western population (Louisiana; Mississippi; and Mobile, Washington, and Choctaw counties in Alabama) listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. HIGH CONSERVATION CONCERN!

DESCRIPTION: The gopher tortoise, also called, gopher, gopher turtle, or hoover chicken, is a large land turtle that burrows dens underground. The tortoise shell is a collection of scutes that make up the top of the shell called the carapace. The carapace is dome-shaped and can grow as long as 15 inches from front to back. The belly of the tortoise is made of smooth plates called the plastron. Like the carapace, the tortoise is grayish brown with large flipper-like, heavily-scaled front legs and strong toenails for digging. The back legs are elephant like and used for pushing ahead or backing up. The tortoise has a reduced tail between the back legs. To the front of the plastron just under the head are gular projections that are longer on males than on females. The plastron is pale yellow with the scutes usually worn. The carapace on juvenile tortoises is more yellowish brown with well-defined concentric growth rings on each scute. Older tortoise’s scutes are usually worn smooth. Sexually dimorphic, the males are smaller on average and have longer gular projections in front and a deep concave rear plastron. The female has a plastron with shorter gular projections in front and is flat to the rear. Larger mental glands are found under the chin of older males. In North America there are four extant species (desert tortoise, Texas tortoise, Bolson tortoise and the gopher tortoise), all occurring in deep sand habitats.

DISTRIBUTION: Gopher tortoises occur in scattered populations in sandy upland habitat from southeastern South Carolina, south into Georgia and peninsular Florida, and west through the panhandle of Florida, south Alabama, south Mississippi, and on to the southeastern regions of Louisiana. This distribution coincides with the historic long leaf pine ecosystems of the lower coastal plain. In Alabama gopher tortoise populations usually occur below the Fall line in the Southern Pine Plains and Buhrstone/Lime Hills ecoregions. Small populations are found along alluvial sandy ridges that occur along south Alabama waterways. In Alabama, gopher tortoises are protected by federal and state laws and found in the following counties: Choctaw, Washington, Mobile, Baldwin, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Clarke, Crenshaw, Coffee, Conecuh, Covington, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, and Wilcox. Small populations occur in Autauga and Macon counties where they were introduced by man.

HABITAT: The largest populations occur in dry, deep sandy soils where the overhead canopy is open. This allows the tortoise suitable habitat for digging deep burrows, and the required sunlight on the ground for thermo-regulation, nesting, and incubation of the eggs. The open canopy also allows for the growth of plants like grasses and forbs on which the tortoises feed. The best populations in Alabama are found in longleaf pine-scrub oak-wiregrass sand hills that are frequently burned. The more loamy soils found in the longleaf-wiregrass Flatwoods support small scattered populations. Clear cuts created by timber operations where gophers occur will support the tortoise for the first few years, but will be abandoned as the canopy closes, usually causing the tortoises to move to the edges of the woodland roads. Pine plantations that are managed for open canopy by thinning and burning will provide the minimum requirements to support a tortoise population. Dense hardwood and unburned pine/hardwood habitats are unsuitable for tortoise populations. Agricultural fields and wildlife food plots will support some individuals but are considered marginal habitat. Tortoises found in these habitats are usually found on the field edges and fence lines where they are not disturbed by annual plantings. Loss of habitat and historic over hunting have caused a large statewide decline of tortoise populations. There are very few public places that have tortoise populations in Alabama and only the Conecuh National Forest and Fort Rucker Military Base have more than 100 individuals.




.

lizards thicket menu Gopher Tortoise
17 Likes	17 Dislikes
680 views views	2.13K followers
Pets & Animals	Upload TimePublished on 7 Sep 2016

Related keywords

fieldglass,venomous viper silver sword,alabama abortion ban,snakes vs tanks,wildlife ekşi,amber nash,alabama abortion,southern cross,turtles can fly,amberen,alabama city,snakes on a plane movie2free,longboard,amber valletta,turtles laying eggs,reptiles 7 lettres,venomous แปลว่า,snakes io,lizards in house,turtles meaning in tamil,southern poverty law center,snakes on a plane,turtles for sale in india,southern pacific,amber portwood latest news,long shot,fieldad,american horror story,american home shield,wildlife game,field of dreams,fields of verdun,long island railroad,american express,american funds,lizards in uk,reptiles planet,amber marshall,venomous animals,alabama university,reptiles de compagnie,fieldclimate,alabama wows,american bulldog,venomous คือ,wildlife konusu,field hockey,southern methodist university,turtles eggs,lizard skin,southern california,snakes don't hiss anymore they call you babe bro or friend แปลว่า,reptiles 94,amber lancaster,amber liu,lizards in florida,american freight,ambergris caye,amber portwood,amberjack,reptiles concept,wildlife tea,long beach,wildlife imdb,lizards for sale,longshoreman,wildlife sinemalar,american heart association,reptiles mammaliens,turtles food,reptiles lyon,lizards in ohio,american airlines,snakes on a plane (2006),wildlife f95,field of glory empires,southern living,southern charm,reptiles liste,long island drink,american pie,alabama power,wildlife izle,wildlife fragman,wildlife cay,wildlife netflix,alabama abortion law,snakes on a plane สปอย,venomous definition,snakes on a plane พากย์ไทยเต็มเรื่อง,turtles for sale,southern california map,wildlife tourism,wildlife trailer,lizards in arizona,venomous fish,reptiles de france,reptiles passion,amber hagerman,southern marin dermatology,longhorn football schedule,turtles in india,snakes and earrings แด่ความรักด้วยความเจ็บปวด,lizards osrs,alabama meme,turtles all the way down,turtles swimming,field museum chicago,southern wine and spirits,wildlife 2018,snakes on a train,fieldcore,reptiles sauriens en 7 lettres,amber rose,turtles vs tortoise,snakeskin gourami,turtles lifespan,reptiles auvergne,southern comfort kitchen,lizards thicket,american family insurance,southern kitchen,alabama abortion 中文,reptiles en ligne,amber eyes,fieldwire,american furniture warehouse,alabama man,snakest,long beach ny,turtles and tortoise,lizards in hawaii,venomous chimera,turtles pronunciation,longwood gardens,lizards in indiana,lizards in islam,lizards in nc,longmire,american factory,wildlife photography,alabama 中文,snakes แปลว่า,american red cross,american gods,amber tamblyn,turtles names,venomous snakes,amber cove,southern oregon university,reptiles sauriens,venomous snake,lizards in california,longhorn football,southern cafe,turtles drawing,alabama inbred,alabama conservative,lizards in texas,wildlife ile ilgili cümleler,venomous meaning,wildlife simulator wolf apk,snakes and ladders,venomous vs poisonous,venomous เลื้อยฉกทะลุหิน,snakes of thailand,snakes on a plane full movie,longhorn menu,snakes and ladders game,turtles images,lizards in missouri,venomous ro,southern tide,lizards in georgia,reptiles volants,alabama meme explained,lizards in bangladesh,turtles meaning,longhorn near me,southern new hampshire university,venomous vines of death,venomous กับ poisonous,ambergris,reptiles paradise,amber alert,alabama meme意思,southern charm cast,fieldset,snakes on a plane รีวิว,fielder,southern comfort,reptiles domestiques,venomous snake in the world,longchamp,longhorn,long beach weather,amber galloway gallego,american psycho,reptiles marins,snakes and earrings,american girl doll,fields of gold lyrics,wildlife film,alabama意思,reptiles mots fléchés,southern charm new orleans,venomous mammals,turtles meaning in hindi,field traduccion,fields of gold,amber heard,turtles videos,long john silvers,fields of the nephilim,alabama zip code,snakes of thailand pictures,alabama postal code,venomous spiders,long shot cast,american express login,venomous snake คือ,wildlife park 3,wildlife park 2,long beach island,amber balcaen,field service,alabama shakes,fieldview,fields outfitting,american ninja warrior,fielding shredder,american eagle,alabama band,long island,venomous แปล,lizards as pets,southern pacific brewing,reptiles et boules de poils ff14,american deli,