Gopher Tortoise is a terrestrial tortoise native to the sandy, well-drained soils of the southeastern United States and the only living tortoise species found east of the Mississippi River. It is considered a keystone species because the burrows it digs provide shelter for at least 360 other animal species, including the eastern indigo snake, and the IUCN lists it as critically endangered due to habitat fragmentation and loss.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Comparison
NatureServe Rank CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Desert, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Gopherus polyphemus
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Gopherus polyphemus
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyPrimary Diet, Gopherus polyphemus
Primary Diet herbivore herbivore
Conservation Status: CITES
CITES Appendix II
In Biome: Desert, Habitat Regions, biome: desert or dune
desert or dune desert or dune
View the Source 2. Wikipedia: Gopher Tortoise
Wikipedialead paragraph (habitat realm), EntityId 325715
The gopher tortoise is seen as a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for at least 360 other animal species.
article text (relationship to people), EntityId 325715
Gopher tortoises have been kept as pets, preventing them from reproducing in their local populations.
Infobox: status2
CITES_A2
Infobox: status
CR
View the Source 3. GBIF Species API
4. NatureServe Explorer: Gopherus polyphemus
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G3"
5. Gopher Tortoise (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q914338 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): vulnerable.
- Child Taxon Of: Gopherus, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q1012045 (Gopherus)
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