#1625 · 🦎 reptiles

Gopher Tortoise

🇳🇱 Gopherschildpad ·Gopherus polyphemus

CRcritically endangered 🦎 Reptiles 📍 outside Europe

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

1. © Donald Fraser · CC BY-NC 4.0
2. © Dave · CC BY-NC 4.0
3. © Alan R. Franck · CC BY-NC 4.0
4. © Alexander Harman, Ph. D. · CC BY-NC 4.0
5. Volusia County, US-FL, US:© John Serrao · CC BY-NC 4.0
6. United States:© Arthur Windsor · CC BY-NC 4.0
7. Florida, US:© tom ward · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
8. Florida, US:© JeffreyGammon · CC BY-NC 4.0
9. Florida, US:© laurasea · CC BY-NC 4.0
10. Florida, US:© Eric C. Maxwell · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

what is it?

The gopher tortoise ( Gopherus polyphemus ) is a species of the Gopherus genus native to the southeastern United States. The gopher tortoise is seen as a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for at least 360 other animal species. They are threatened by predation and habitat destruction.

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 34,034iNaturalist observations
threat CRcritically endangered

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
34,034 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by François Marie Daudin in 1801 (225 years ago).
Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.