# Gopher Tortoise (*Gopherus polyphemus*) The Gopher Tortoise is a slow-moving reptile that digs deep burrows in the ground. These burrows provide homes for many other animals, making the tortoise a great helper in nature! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 21 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Gopher Tortoise](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gopherus_polyphemus1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gopherus_polyphemus1.jpg) ## Appearance The Gopher Tortoise has a sturdy, dome-shaped shell that is typically grayish-brown to dark brown. Its skin is dull grayish-yellow to brown, with thick, elephantine legs and flattened, shovel-like forelimbs. It is visually distinct for its large front claws, perfect for digging. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Testudines - **Order:** Testudines - **Family:** Testudinidae - **Genus:** Gopherus ## Interesting facts - Gopher Tortoises can eat tough prickly pear cactus, thorns and all! - Hundreds of different animal species share tortoise burrows! - Their front legs are shaped like powerful shovels, perfect for digging! - They are the only native tortoise found in the southeastern USA! ## Special abilities - **Climate Controller:** Gopher Tortoise has burrows that help them escape extreme heat and cold, keeping them safe from harsh weather conditions. - **Habitat Engineer:** Gopher Tortoise can build extensive underground tunnels that provide shelter and homes for hundreds of other animal species. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 20-30 cm - **Weight:** 3-7 kg - **Lifespan:** 40-60 years - **Speed:** 0.5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-15 - **Incubation:** 70-100 days ## Diet & Feeding These plant-eaters munch on leaves, flowers, fruits, and stems to get all their energy! - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Wild berries, Legumes, Leaves, Cactus pads, Fungi - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** [Eastern Indigo Snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-indigo-snake) (*Drymarchon couperi*) — finds refuge in burrows - **Shelter:** Gopher Frog (*Lithobates capito*) — uses burrows for shelter - **Shelter:** Florida Mouse (*Podomys floridanus*) — nests inside their burrows - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — eats tortoise eggs and hatchlings ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not touch or disturb wild tortoises; they need their space to feel safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Gopher Tortoise? Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Gopher Tortoise? 20-30 cm ### How much does Gopher Tortoise weigh? 3-7 kg ### How long does Gopher Tortoise live? 40-60 years ### How fast can Gopher Tortoise move? 0.5 km/h ### What does Gopher Tortoise eat? These plant-eaters munch on leaves, flowers, fruits, and stems to get all their energy! ### Where is Gopher Tortoise usually found? Grasslands ### How does Gopher Tortoise hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Foley Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foley-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Heathcote Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/heathcote-botanical-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Ortega](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ortega) — Florida, US · Neighborhood - [St. Augustine Town Plan Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/st-augustine-town-plan-historic-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Brantley Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brantley-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [South Carolina Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-carolina-aquarium) — US · Aquarium [View all places to see Gopher Tortoise](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/gopher-tortoise) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Gopher Tortoise: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gopher-tortoise)