#gopherus

[herpsandbirds]

[great-and-small]

Fuck them siblings

[k-rayel]

i need the AZMNH to bring back their Talk Science meetings… missing them dearly.

[crudlynaturephotos]

[herpsandbirds]

Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), family Testudinidae, found in the SE United States

This is a keystone species. Their burrows are very important shelters for a wide variety for animals.

Vulnerable, due mainly to habitat destruction.

Photograph by inkesunila

[herpsandbirds]

Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai), family Testudinidae, , Arizona, USA

Vulnerable

This species was separated from the Desert Tortoise, G. agassizii, in 2011, based on genetic evidence. The population of “Desert Tortoises” found east of the Colorado River are now Sonoran Desert Tortoises, and those west of the river are G. agassizii.

photograph by Dianne Slotten

[herpsandbirds]

What kind of tortoise is this large man? He's about 16 inches long and I'm in north florida, he has a burrow in my backyard

Turtle ID - NOFL, USA:

Ahhhhhhh yes, one of my favorites! You have encountered a Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), family Testudinidae.

Gopher tortoise - Wikipedia

[herpsandbirds]

Sonoran Desert Tortoises (Gopherus morafkai), family Testudinidae, Saguaro National Park, AZ, USA

Vulnerable

This species was separated from the Desert Tortoise, G. agassizii, in 2011, based on genetic evidence. The population of “Desert Tortoises” found east of the Colorado River are now Sonoran Desert Tortoises, and those west of the river are G. agassizii.

photographs: USFWS,: Andrew Pernick, US Bureau of Reclamation, K. Kristina Drake, USGS