Florida Envirothon - Wildlife: Gopher Tortoise

What is the gopher tortoises’ range?

It is s one of four tortoises in North America. It is the only species east of the Mississippi and is generally limited to the southeastern states from eastern Louisiana to southeastern South Carolina, south into Florida.

What is a restriction for the gopher tortoise?

They are restricted to areas of sandy soil with an herbaceous understory and open canopy.

What does a gopher tortoise look like?

A medium-sized turtle with a broad head and relatively short tail. It does not have webbed feet, and its shell is not hinged. Gophers have stiff, flattened forelimbs used during burrow excavation.

How big is an adult gopher tortoise?

9-11 inches long and 8-10 pounds.

What the gopher tortoise’s shell look like?

Domed and varies in color from a light tan to gray.

What do gopher tortoise hatchlings look like?

Yellow-orange, less than two inches long, and soft-shelled for several days.

When do gopher tortoises reach sexual maturity?

10-15 years old, or up to 21 years old.

How long do gopher tortoises live?

40-60, but can be up to 150 years old.

How much of the hatchlings live beyond two years of age?

1-3%, giving gopher tortoises a high mortality rate for their young.

What is the diet of a gopher tortoise?

Broad-leafed plants and grasses are their primary food sources, but they also consume fruits and berries and small amounts of organic debris, insects, and carrion.

Where do gopher tortoises reside?

Burrows

What do the burrows do?

Allows the animals to escape the heat and moderates the cold. The burrows are also humid, which is believed to be important in preventing desiccation in the animals during the winter months.

What do the burrows look like?

The burrows are oval-shaped and approximately the same width as the tortoise is long. Burrows average 10–15 feet in length and culminate in a small chamber area.

How big was a documented burrow one time?

40 feet long

What do juvenile burrows look like?

Typically shallower, providing less protection from predators.

How entrance do the burrows have?

1 entrance, but a gopher tortoise has multiple burrows.

What are the animals that are dependent on gopher tortoise burrows called?

Commensals

Do gopher tortoises have social structure?

Yes, they have a defined social structure with dominant males (lowkey like the omegaverse gang it was kinda weird reading all this)

What do the gopher tortoises in their social structure do?

They have courtship displays (head bobbing and positioning) and actively defend their territories.

When is the gopher tortoises breeding period?

Beginning in February and lasting into September; the peak period is May to June.

Where do the tortoises lay their eggs?

Sunny, sandy places. Often the burrow apron.

How big is the clutch size for a gopher tortoise?

3-11, with the average being 6

What is the incubation period of a gopher tortoise

80-110 days

How often to gopher tortoises breed?

Usually every other year

Sometimes gopher tortoises hibernate, but it is based on their location. What is the range?

Central to north Florida

What temperatures do gopher tortoises come out of hibernation to forage?

70 degrees

What are the benefits gopher tortoises provide to a community?

Seed dispersal of herabceous plants, nutrient recycling in the soil, and creation of underground habitats for many species.

Why is the gopher tortoise population depleting?

Due to habitat loss, human harvest (which is illegal), road mortalities, habitat fragmentation, inadequate law enforcement, and disease.

What conservation efforts are being held to increase the tortoise population?

Mitigation banking and relocating