gopher tortoise
Southeastern digging chelonian
A gopher tortoise is a burrowing land turtle native to the southeastern United States.
It digs deep burrows that provide shelter for hundreds of other species, making it a keystone animal in its ecosystem.
The name comes from its burrowing habits, which resemble those of gophers.
Gopher tortoises are protected throughout their range.
Turtle family member
- carapaceProtective dorsal exoskeleton
- plastronVentral shell portion
- herbivorePlant-only consumer
- grazerHerbivore eating low vegetation
ectothermic · herpetology · scutes · oviparous · forelimbs · clutch · eggs · hatchling
Fire-resistant southern conifer
- sandhillMound of accumulated sand
- scrubClean by rubbing hard
- flatwoodsLow-lying pine forest region
- xericLacking moisture
wiregrass · upland · coastal dune · sandy soil · saw palmetto · well-drained · southeastern · Florida
Herbivore eating low vegetation
- herbivorePlant-only consumer
- legumesEdible pod-bearing plants
- wiregrassWiry-stemmed pasture plant
- prickly pearSpine-covered cactus, edible fruit
blackberry · pawpaw · fungi · fallen fruit · foraging · native vegetation
Act of unearthing
- tunnelingDigging underground passages
- diggingRemoving earth below
- denPrivate room or lair
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
chamber · shelter · refuge · apron · keystone species · commensals · sandy soil · tunnel system
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- protectedKept from harm
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- recovery planScheme for restoration
relocation · mitigation · survey · permit · listing · population decline · wildlife corridor · land management
chelonian
Turtle family member
grazer · ectothermic · herpetology · scutes · oviparous · forelimbs · clutch · eggs · hatchling · juvenile
longleaf pine
Fire-resistant southern conifer
xeric · wiregrass · upland · coastal dune · sandy soil · saw palmetto · well-drained · southeastern · Florida · Georgia
grazer
Herbivore eating low vegetation
prickly pear · blackberry · pawpaw · fungi · fallen fruit · foraging · native vegetation
excavation
Act of unearthing
underground · chamber · shelter · refuge · apron · keystone species · commensals · sandy soil · tunnel system · nesting
endangered
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- protectedKept from harm
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
recovery plan · relocation · mitigation · survey · permit · listing · population decline · wildlife corridor · land management · prescribed fire
- burrowing reptilesblind snake, sandfish
- reptileslizard, snake, turtle, crocodile, alligator
- Turtlesturtle, pond turtle, box turtle, sea turtle, mud turtle
- Gopherus
- Okefenokee Swampalligators, cypress trees, blackwater, swamp water, peat bogs
- Endangered Wildlifeblue whale, black rhino, bonobo, California condor, giant panda
gopher tortoisesea turtle
Ocean-dwelling shelled reptile
green sea turtle · leatherback turtle · marine turtle · loggerhead turtle · freshwater turtle
tortoise, gopher, tortoises, tortoiseshell, gophers, tortoiselike, pocket gopher