DOCSLIB.ORG

Gopher Tortoise Class: Reptilia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Gopher Tortoise Class: Reptilia Gopherus polyphemus Gopher Tortoise Class: Reptilia. Order: Testudines. Family: Testudinidae. Other names: Physical Description: The gopher tortoise is a terrestrial turtle with a domed shell and round, stumpy, elephantine hind legs that are well- adapted for digging. The carapace is brown to tan, with light-centered scutes; they usually have a yellowish plastron, grayish brown head, and dark brown irises. Head is large and blunt in front; hind feet are smaller than front feet; male plastron is concave. Adult gular scutes project beyond carapace, serving as a “head rest”, which is convenient, since they cannot pull their head all the way into their shell. They typically are 9¼ - 14½” in length, and weigh from 8-15 pounds. One of the most unique features of turtles and tortoises is their protective shell. Because of the shell, flight, running, and climbing are not evolutionary options! But some adaptive radiation occurs within the order. Turtles and tortoises inhabit marshes, lakes, rivers, and the open sea, as well as forests, grasslands and deserts. The top shell is called the carapace and the bottom shell the plastron. The carapace develops from a layer of skin and the backbone and ribs are fused to the carapace. The plastron is developed from the bones of the shoulder girdle. The shell is so successful that it is the cornerstone of turtle design and lends to the lineage’s longevity, while at the same time limiting species diversity. Diet in the Wild: Generally herbivorous: grass, leaves, wild fruit; may eat some insects; in captivity they readily accept leafy greens, vegetables, and fruit; some show an interest in meat. Diet at the Zoo: Tortoise biscuits, mustard greens, collard greens, escarole, romaine, sweet potato, carrot. Habitat & Range: Well-drained sandy areas between grasslands and forests. Found along the southern coast from South Carolina to Florida and along the Gulf Coast to extreme eastern Louisiana. They dig long, wide burrows which may reach 35 feet in length. Life Span: Up to 80 years in the wild (typically 40-60 years); up to 100 years in captivity. Perils in the wild: Some mammals and birds of prey eat hatchlings. The automobile takes its toll each year as the slow-moving turtle attempts to creep across busy streets, highways, and railroad tracks. The biggest peril is from habitat destruction and/or fragmentation (which is defined as habitats separated by human land usage) causing small, isolated populations that sometimes suffer from inbreeding. Physical Adaptations: Heavily scaled forelimbs, when folded, close the opening of the shell and provide good protection for the head and neck. Gopher tortoise’s have front feet that are well adapted to digging their burrows, and elephantine rear feet for walking. This type of foot adaptation is common in terrestrial turtles and tortoises. 05/2013 See “physical description” above for more information on the design of the turtle’s shell. Behavioral Adaptations: Diurnal. Typically emerge from burrow when the day gets warm and feed until early afternoon. Mostly solitary and territorial. Most gopher tortoises will occupy the same burrow for most of, if not all, of their life. Gopher tortoises are accomplished burrowers, having immovable wrists that give their forelimbs a shovel-like movement and great power. Their tunnels slope downward from the surface and then usually level off underground, and may be up to 35 feet long and wide enough so that the animal may turn around at any point along its length. The burrow, which is a permanent home, is kept painstakingly free of debris. The very stable temperature and humidity within the burrow protect the tortoise from the alterations of climate which may occur on the surface. Because the weather in their range is cooler and more humid, gopher tortoises may remain active through the hottest hours of the day. They enter short periods of hibernation only if the weather becomes severe. Reproduction and Development: Gopher tortoises are slow to reach sexual maturity – at 10 to 20 years of age. They have a low reproductive rate, and a total of only 3-5% of their young typically survives. The breeding season typically spans March-December, but most eggs are laid during May and June. When courting, a male gopher tortoise will circle the female and bob his head up and down to attract the female. When this succeeds, the male then bites the female on the leg and the front edge of the shell, which usually initiates mating. Females deposit 1-25 (typically 5-8) white, spherical eggs at the entrance of their burrows to capture heat, making them prey to raccoons and other predators. After an incubation period of 80- 110 days, depending on latitude, the eggs hatch and the young dig their way to the surface. Hatchlings are 1 ½” in length with large yellow or orange spots on their carapace. Additional Information: The gopher tortoise is a keystone species, which is a species that has a disproportionally large effect on its environment. Keystone species play a critical role in maintaining the ecological community where they live through their effect on the ecosystem and the other plants and animals that live there. For the gopher tortoise, this is mostly due to the diverse group of animals that utilize and depend upon the burrows created by the gopher tortoise. Many other animals seek shelter or live permanently in “gopher” burrows. These run the gamut from insects to burrowing owls, raccoons and opossums, gopher frogs, indigo snakes, diamondback rattlers, toads, and various invertebrates. As such, gopher tortoises are very important animals in their ecosystem, and are considered a keystone species. Like the desert tortoise, gopher males are normally placid except during the mating season. When two males meet, they nod their heads rapidly and perhaps touch noses before continuing their separate ways. However, during the mating season, a fight may ensue. Each draws back and then rushes toward the other, using the gular scute projecting forward from the plastron to butt one another in the hopes of tipping over one’s adversary. According to one source, certain Indian tribes once used the gopher tortoise as a form of money. Its shell was used to make baskets and pots. 05/2013 Conservation Status: IUCN Status The IUCN has assessed the gopher tortoise as “Vulnerable” (VU) – High risk of endangerment in the wild. The tortoise is listed as a Threatened Species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and is protected by State law in many of its range states. Conservation Efforts: There are conservation efforts underway to protect the gopher tortoise’s habitat in the Southeastern United States. One organization, “The Gopher Tortoise Council”, offers professional advice for management, conservation, and protection of gopher tortoises; it encourages the study of the life history, ecology, and management of gopher tortoises and other upland species, and also conducts active public information and conservation education programs, and seeks effective protection of the gopher tortoise and other upland species throughout the southeastern United States. Glossary: List of definitions of the most important recurrent technical terms used in the text. Carapace - The top shell of a turtle. The carapace develops from a layer of skin and the backbone and ribs are fused to the carapace. Diurnal – Active during daytime hours. Gular scutes – Enlarged scales on the plastron of a turtle which are located under the throat. Keystone species - A species that has a disproportionally large effect on its environment, and plays a critical role in maintaining the ecological community where they live through their effect on the ecosystem and the other plants and animals that live there. Named after the architectural term “keystone,” which refers to the wedge-shaped stone at the very top, or apex, of a masonry arch, which supports and essentially upholds the entire arch. Often, if a keystone species is removed from the ecosystem, a cascade of events occurs that greatly impacts the ecosystem (e.g. if a keystone predator is removed, its prey population explodes, which then overgrazes the local plant life, etc.). Plastron - The lower shell of a turtle, developed from the bones of the shoulder girdle. Scute - Any enlarged scale on a reptile; sometimes called a “plate”. Vulnerable (VU) – IUCN status which defines a “High risk of endangerment in the wild”. Sources: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens http://www.benning.army.mil/garrison/DPW/EMD/gopher_tortoise.htm http://www.fws.gov/northflorida/GopherTortoise/Gopher_Tortoise_Fact_Sheet.html http://naturalhistory.uga.edu/~GMNH/gawildlife/index.php?page=speciespages/species_page&key =gpolyphemus 05/2013 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • ABSTRACTS 44Th Annual Meeting and Symposium Tucson, Arizona February 21–23, 2019
    ABSTRACTS 44th Annual Meeting and Symposium Tucson, Arizona February 21–23, 2019 FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING AND SYMPOSIUM THE DESERT TORTOISE COUNCIL TUCSON, AZ February 21–23, 2019 ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS AND POSTERS (Abstracts arranged alphabetically by last name of first author) *Speaker, if not the first author listed Long-term Data Collection and Trends of a 130-Acre High Desert Riparian and Upland Preserve in Northwestern Mohave County, Arizona Julie Alpert and Robert Faught Willow Creek Environmental Consulting, LLC, 15857 E. Silver Springs Road, Kingman, Arizona 86401, USA.Phone: 928-692-6501. Email: [email protected] The Willow Creek Riparian Preserve (Preserve) is a privately owned 130-acre site located 30 miles east of Kingman, Arizona. The Preserve was formally established in 2007 with the purchase of 10-acres and an agreement with the eastern adjoining private landowner to add an additional 120-acres. The Preserve location was unfenced and wholly accessible by livestock, off-road vehicle use, and hunting. In October of 2008 the Preserve was fenced with volunteer efforts from the local Rotary Club and Boy Scout Troop 66. Additional financial assistance came through a large discount in the cost of fencing materials from Kingman Ace Hardware. A total of 0.5-linear mile of new wildlife friendly fencing (barbless top wire and 18-inches above-ground bottom wire) was installed along the south and west sides and connected to existing Arizona State Lands cattle allotment fencing. Baseline and on-going studies and data collection have occurred since 2004. These have included small mammal live trapping; chiropteran surveys with the use of Anabat; migratory, breeding, and winter avian surveys; amphibian and reptile surveys; deployment of game cameras; animal track and sign identification and movement patterns; vegetation and plant surveys; and a wetland delineation.
    [Show full text]
  • Sea Turtle Activity Book
    Sea Turtle Adventures II The adventure continues... An Activity Book for All Ages Welcome to Sarasota County! The beautiful beaches and surrounding waters of Sarasota REMOVE OBSTACLES: Turtles can easily become trapped County provide critical habitat for important populations in beach furniture, recreational equipment, tents and of threatened and endangered sea turtles. We are honored toys, or fall into deep holes in the sand. You can provide that many sea turtles make Sarasota County their home a more natural and safe shoreline for the turtles to nest year-round, while other sea turtles migrate to our beaches by removing all items from the beach each night. Also, from hundreds of miles away to find mates and nest. remember to leave the beach as you found it by knocking down sandcastles, filling in holes, and picking up garbage, Each year between May 1 and Oct. 31, adult female sea especially plastics, which can be mistaken for food by turtles crawl out of the Gulf of Mexico to lay approximately sea turtles. 100 eggs in a sandy nest on our beaches. The clutch incubates for almost two months until the hatchlings We hope you enjoy learning more about sea turtles in this emerge one night and make their way to the Gulf. During activity book. Thank you for sharing the shore and helping this special time of year, there are many things you can do to make our beaches more turtle-friendly! to help and protect these magnificent animals. Sincerely, LIMIT LIGHTING: Lights on the beach confuse and disorient Your Friends at Sarasota County sea turtles.
    [Show full text]
  • Loggerhead Sea Turtle
    Loggerhead Sea Turtle Description: The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is named for its large head and blunt jaw. This huge sea turtle can grow to 800 pounds (though the average turtle is about 200 pounds) and three and a half feet in length. It is the largest hard-shelled turtle in the world. The carapace (shell) and flippers are reddish brown and the plastron (lower shell) is yellowish. The carapace has five lateral scutes and five central scutes. Scutes are hexagonal sections of the carapace. Underparts are white or whitish. These incredible turtles have powerful flippers that can propel them through the water at speeds of up to 16 miles per hour. The Loggerhead Sea Turtle has a life span of up to 50 years in the wild. Habitat/Range: The seafaring Loggerhead Sea Turtle is found throughout the world's tropical oceans. They are also found in temperate waters in search of food and in migration. Breeding populations exist in many locales including the Atlantic coast of the United States (from North Carolina to Florida), numerous Caribbean islands, Central America, the Mediterranean Sea, and Africa. Diet: Loggerhead Sea Turtles consume fish, crustaceans, mollusks, crabs, and jellyfish, They use their powerful jaws to crush prey. These turtles often ingest stray plastic bags which are mistaken for jellyfish and which cause potentially fatal complications. Nesting: The Female Loggerhead Sea Turtle normally lays her eggs on the same beach in which she was born. It may take up to 30 years before these turtles reach reproductive age. In June or July, females will emerge from the ocean and dig a hole in the sand.
    [Show full text]
  • Manual for the Differentiation of Captive-Produced and Wild-Caught Turtles and Tortoises (Testudines)
    Image: Peter Paul van Dijk Image:Henrik Bringsøe Image: Henrik Bringsøe Image: Andrei Daniel Mihalca Image: Beate Pfau MANUAL F O R T H E DIFFERENTIATION OF CAPTIVE-PRODUCED AND WILD-CAUGHT TURTLES AND TORTOISES (TESTUDINES) PREPARED BY SPECIES360 UNDER CONTRACT FOR THE CITES SECRETARIAT Manual for the differentiation of captive-produced and wild-caught turtles and tortoises (Testudines) This document was prepared by Species360 under contract for the CITES Secretariat. Principal Investigators: Prof. Dalia A. Conde, Ph.D. and Johanna Staerk, Ph.D., Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, https://www.species360.orG Authors: Johanna Staerk1,2, A. Rita da Silva1,2, Lionel Jouvet 1,2, Peter Paul van Dijk3,4,5, Beate Pfau5, Ioanna Alexiadou1,2 and Dalia A. Conde 1,2 Affiliations: 1 Species360 Conservation Science Alliance, www.species360.orG,2 Center on Population Dynamics (CPop), Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark, 3 The Turtle Conservancy, www.turtleconservancy.orG , 4 Global Wildlife Conservation, globalwildlife.orG , 5 IUCN SSC Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, www.iucn-tftsG.org. 6 Deutsche Gesellschaft für HerpetoloGie und Terrarienkunde (DGHT) Images (title page): First row, left: Mixed species shipment (imaGe taken by Peter Paul van Dijk) First row, riGht: Wild Testudo marginata from Greece with damaGe of the plastron (imaGe taken by Henrik BrinGsøe) Second row, left: Wild Testudo marginata from Greece with minor damaGe of the carapace (imaGe taken by Henrik BrinGsøe) Second row, middle: Ticks on tortoise shell (Amblyomma sp. in Geochelone pardalis) (imaGe taken by Andrei Daniel Mihalca) Second row, riGht: Testudo graeca with doG bite marks (imaGe taken by Beate Pfau) Acknowledgements: The development of this manual would not have been possible without the help, support and guidance of many people.
    [Show full text]
  • The Conservation Biology of Tortoises
    The Conservation Biology of Tortoises Edited by Ian R. Swingland and Michael W. Klemens IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group and The Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology Occasional Papers of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) No. 5 IUCN—The World Conservation Union IUCN Species Survival Commission Role of the SSC 3. To cooperate with the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is IUCN's primary source of the in developing and evaluating a data base on the status of and trade in wild scientific and technical information required for the maintenance of biological flora and fauna, and to provide policy guidance to WCMC. diversity through the conservation of endangered and vulnerable species of 4. To provide advice, information, and expertise to the Secretariat of the fauna and flora, whilst recommending and promoting measures for their con- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna servation, and for the management of other species of conservation concern. and Flora (CITES) and other international agreements affecting conser- Its objective is to mobilize action to prevent the extinction of species, sub- vation of species or biological diversity. species, and discrete populations of fauna and flora, thereby not only maintain- 5. To carry out specific tasks on behalf of the Union, including: ing biological diversity but improving the status of endangered and vulnerable species. • coordination of a programme of activities for the conservation of biological diversity within the framework of the IUCN Conserva- tion Programme. Objectives of the SSC • promotion of the maintenance of biological diversity by monitor- 1.
    [Show full text]
  • The First Challenge Walking with Miskwaadesi the First Challenge THIRTEEN MOONS on a TURTLE’S BACK
    1. THIRTEEN MOONS ON A TURTLE’S BACK THE FIRST CHALLENGE WALKING WITH MISKWAADESI THE FIRST CHALLENGE THIRTEEN MOONS ON A TURTLE’S BACK Who is Miskwaadesi and what does she need? How important is the Turtle to the people of the world? Can you describe the year in your language or culture according to the 13 moons? Will you accept Miskwaadesi’s challenges and help to make your community and your wetland world a healthier place for everyone and everything? “..come and walk in my footsteps. Bring your grandchildren and great grandchildren, and learn about me and my clan brothers and sisters. Will you help me find a safe and healthy place for my clan brothers and sisters to live? “ “Will you tell the people that everyone needs to work together to make our space a healthy one again?” Miskwaadesi’s 1st challenge. 23 EXPECTATIONS PRACTICING THE LEARNING | FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS TITLE OF ACTIVITY ONTARIO CURRICULUM EXPECTATION WORKSHEET Introduction to Miskwaadesi’s 4e4, 4e5, 4e26 1a - 13 challenges challenges Turtles of the World 4z47, 4z35 1b - Turtles of the World DEMONSTRATING THE LEARNING | MAKING OUR OWN FOOTSTEPS TITLE OF ACTIVITY ONTARIO CURRICULUM EXPECTATION WORKSHEET A Year of the Turtle - 4a43, 4a44, 4a45 Calendar 13 moons Journal Reflection 4a43 Cover page Reflection no.1 4e56 ONE STEP MORE (individual student optional adventures in learning) 1. Research traditional teachings and stories about turtles 2. Tortoises of the World Miskwaadesi, calendar, challenge, tortoise, teaching, WORD WALL: Pleiades, symbol, emblem, 24 LINKS TO OTHER CURRICULUM 1st CHALLENGE Ways of Knowing Guide -– Relationship – the Sky World pg 75 http://www.torontozoo.com/pdfs/Stewardship_Guide.pdf Turtle Curriculum http://www.torontozoo.com/adoptapond/turtleCurriculum.asp 25 KOKOM ANNIE’S JOURNAL THE STORY BEGINS… “…Ahniin my grandchildren, Are you coming to spend the summer with me and your cousins here at Wasauksing? I need your help with a special project.
    [Show full text]
  • Eastern Snake-Necked Turtle
    Husbandry Manual for Eastern Snake-Necked Turtle Chelodina longicollis Reptilia: Chelidae Image Courtesy of Jacki Salkeld Author: Brendan Mark Host Date of Preparation: 04/06/06 Western Sydney Institute of TAFE - Richmond Course Name and Number: 1068 Certificate 3 - Captive Animals Lecturers: Graeme Phipps/Andrew Titmuss/ Jacki Salkeld CONTENTS 1. Introduction 4 2. Taxonomy 5 2.1 Nomenclature 5 2.2 Subspecies 5 2.3 Synonyms 5 2.4 Other Common Names 5 3. Natural History 6 3.1 Morphometrics 6 3.1.1 Mass and Basic Body Measurements 6 3.1.2 Sexual Dimorphism 6 3.1.3 Distinguishing Features 7 3.2 Distribution and Habitat 7 3.3 Conservation Status 8 3.4 Diet in the Wild 8 3.5 Longevity 8 3.5.1 In the Wild 8 3.5.2 In Captivity 8 3.5.3 Techniques Used to Determine Age in Adults 9 4. Housing Requirements 10 4.1 Exhibit/Enclosure Design 10 4.2 Holding Area Design 10 4.3 Spatial Requirements 11 4.4 Position of Enclosures 11 4.5 Weather Protection 11 4.6 Temperature Requirements 12 4.7 Substrate 12 4.8 Nestboxes and/or Bedding Material 12 4.9 Enclosure Furnishings 12 5. General Husbandry 13 5.1 Hygiene and Cleaning 13 5.2 Record Keeping 13 5.3 Methods of Identification 13 5.4 Routine Data Collection 13 6. Feeding Requirements 14 6.1 Captive Diet 14 6.2 Supplements 15 6.3 Presentation of Food 15 1 7. Handling and Transport 16 7.1 Timing of Capture and Handling 16 7.2 Capture and Restraint Techniques 16 7.3 Weighing and Examination 17 7.4 Release 17 7.5 Transport Requirements 18 7.5.1 Box Design 18 7.5.2 Furnishings 19 7.5.3 Water and Food 19 7.5.4 Animals Per Box 19 7.5.5 Timing of Transportation 19 7.5.6 Release from Box 19 8.
    [Show full text]
  • N040p017.Pdf
    Vol. 40: 17–29, 2019 ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH Published September 19§ https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00978 Endang Species Res OPENPEN ACCESSCCESS Behavior, growth, and survivorship of laboratory-reared juvenile gopher tortoises following hard release Thomas A. Radzio1,*, Nicholas J. Blase1, James A. Cox2, David K. Delaney3, Michael P. O’Connor1 1Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA 2Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy, Tallahassee, Florida 32312, USA 3United States Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Champaign, Illinois 61822, USA ABSTRACT: Captive rearing represents a vital component of many conservation and research programs. However, captive animals can exhibit unnatural behaviors and experience high preda- tion following release, which can limit reintroduction success and the inferential value of studies that use released animals. Soft-release measures (e.g. penning) can acclimate individuals and limit interactions with predators but can also require considerable resources. We reared hatchling gopher tortoises Gopherus polyphemus in the laboratory for physiology experiments and subse- quently hard-released them as yearlings to assess the efficacy of this low-cost release method and to explore possible captivity effects on tortoise behavior, growth, and survivorship. Hard-released yearlings exhibited limited dispersal; most constructed burrows soon after release, and, like wild juveniles, exhibited a preference for burrowing under deadwood. Video observations at burrows indicated natural behavior, including overnighting in burrows, extensive basking directly in front of burrows, and limited time away from these important refugia. Basking tortoises responded to simulated predator approach by rapidly entering burrows, with flight initiation distances and hid- ing times equivalent or similar to those of wild individuals.
    [Show full text]
  • Nest Guarding in the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus)
    148 CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY, Volume 11, Number 1 – 2012 Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2012, 11(1): 148–151 g 2012 Chelonian Research Foundation Nest Guarding in the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) 1 1 ANDREW M. GROSSE ,KURT A. BUHLMANN , 1 1 BESS B. HARRIS ,BRETT A. DEGREGORIO , 2 1 BRETT M. MOULE ,ROBERT V. H ORAN III , AND 1 TRACEY D. TUBERVILLE 1Savannah River Ecology Lab, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina 29802 USA [[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]]; 2South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Columbia, South Carolina 29201 USA [[email protected]] ABSTRACT. – Nest guarding is rarely observed among reptiles. Specifically, turtles and tortoises are generally perceived as providing no nest protection once the eggs are laid. Here, we describe observations of nest guarding by female gopher tortoises (Gopherus poly- phemus). Nest guarding among reptiles is considered uncom- mon (Reynolds et al. 2002). Although many crocodilians are known to protect their nests and offspring from potential predators, turtles and tortoises are generally NOTES AND FIELD REPORTS 149 perceived as providing no parental care once the egg around the southeastern United States, have been laying process is complete. However, some tortoise translocated and penned in 1-ha enclosures for at least species have been observed defending their nests from one year to increase site fidelity by limiting dispersal after potential predators, namely the desert tortoise (Gopherus pen removal (Tuberville et al. 2005). One such pen was agassizii; Vaughan and Humphrey 1984) and Asian removed in July 2009, and all tortoises (n 5 14) were brown tortoise (Manouria emys; McKeown 1990; Eggen- equipped with Holohil (Ontario, Canada) AI-2F transmit- schwiler 2003; Bonin et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Gopher Tortoise Gopherus Polyphemus
    Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus The Gopher Tortoise is a terrestrial turtle with elephantine hind feet and shovel-like forefeet used for digging impressive underground burrows that can be over 40 feet long and 10 feet deep. The adult carapace (upper shell) is a dark brown or grayish-black and the plastron (lower shell) is yellowish. Age and Size Behavior Diet These slow-growing reptiles may live Gopher Tortoises are most active Gopher Tortoises forage primarily on 40-60 years in the wild. They may reach during the spring and summer months low-growing herbaceous vegetation adulthood between 10-20 years of age and retreat to their burrows during the such as grasses and legumes and will and maturity varies by geographic winter months. They typically do not occasionally eat blackberries and other region within their range. An adult travel far from their burrows to forage seasonal fruits. shell is typically 11 inches in length and and mate if they are in good quality once they reach adulthood, males will habitat and part of a population of develop a concave plastron toward the tortoises. They will spend time basking rear of the shell while the female’s at or near the entrance of their burrow plastron will remain at. Females will and will sometimes dig and use grow slightly larger than males and multiple burrows during the active juvenile tortoise shells usually harden season. at 6-7 years of age. Reproduction Gopher Tortoises may reproduce once they reach maturity What You Can Do To Help between 10-20 years of age.
    [Show full text]
  • Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins by Sandie Lee
    Name: _______________________ Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins by Sandie Lee Are You a Turtle, a Tortoise, or a Terrapin? For 215 million years, our shelled friends have lived with a mistaken identity. It’s understandable. We think – if it has a shell, it must be a turtle…right? Not quite. There’s actually around 300 different species of turtles, tortoises and terrapins. So what’s the difference? To Be or Not To Be a Terrapin An easy way to tell a terrapin from a turtle is from its coloring. Terrapins have bright yellow and green patterns on their shells and bodies. These animals live in fresh or brackish (partly salted) water. They are commonly found in ponds and river beds where they will bask in the sun on rocks and logs. Their feet are designed both for swimming, with webbed toes and sharp claws for climbing. This small group includes the Slider and Red-Eared Slider which has jaunty This Red-Eared Slider is a terrapin. red stripes along its face and is also commonly sold in stores. Do you know someone who keeps a terrapin as a pet? Built Tortoise Tough Like a sturdy truck, tortoises are built for the rugged terrain and live strictly on land. They have thick, stumpy legs and claws that help propel them forward and dig deep holes. The Gopher Tortoise is able to dig underground tunnels over 40 feet long and 10 feet deep. No meat is required in a tortoise’s diet, they’re purely vegetarians. But that doesn’t stop the Galapagos Giant Tortoise from weighing This Galapagos Giant Tortoise lives only on land.
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainable Trade in Turtles and Tortoises
    Action Plan for North America Sustainable Trade in Turtles and Tortoises Commission for Environmental Cooperation Please cite as: CEC. 2017. Sustainable Trade in Turtles and Tortoises: Action Plan for North America. Montreal, Canada: Commission for Environmental Cooperation. 60 pp. This report was prepared by Peter Paul van Dijk and Ernest W.T. Cooper, of E. Cooper Environmental Consulting, for the Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The information contained herein is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the governments of Canada, Mexico or the United States of America. Reproduction of this document in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes may be made without special permission from the CEC Secretariat, provided acknowledgment of the source is made. The CEC would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication or material that uses this document as a source. Except where otherwise noted, this work is protected under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial–No Derivative Works License. © Commission for Environmental Cooperation, 2017 Publication Details Publication type: Project Publication Publication date: May 2017 Original language: English Review and quality assurance procedures: Final Party review: April 2017 QA313 Project: 2015-2016/Strengthening conservation and sustainable production of selected CITES Appendix II species in North America ISBN: 978-2-89700-208-4 (e-version); 978-2-89700-209-1 (print) Disponible en français
    [Show full text]