Gopher Tortoise

Gopher Tortoise, common name for four species of North American land turtles, known for digging deep, gopherlike burrows. They are found across the southern United States and northern Mexico. Gopher tortoises are the only tortoises occurring in North America; their relatives include the giant tortoises of the Galápagos and Aldabra islands. The adult gopher tortoise of the southeastern United States weighs about 4 kg (about 9 lb), and its domed brown shell is up to 30 cm (up to 12 in) long. Its front limbs are flattened for digging and are heavily scaled. In the United States, all gopher tortoises are protected by state and federal laws throughout their range.

Scientific classification: Gopher tortoises belong to the family Testudinidae. The gopher tortoise of the southeastern United States is classified as Gopherus polyphemus.