Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
Kingdom: Animalia Class: Reptilia Order: Testudines Family: Testudinidae
Listing Status: and
General Information
The gopher tortoise is a large, (shell 15 to 37 centimeters or 5.9 to 14.6 inches long) dark-brown to grayish-black terrestrial turtle with elephantine hind feet, shovel-like forefeet, and a gular projection beneath the head on the yellowish, hingeless plastron or undershell (Ernst and Barbour 1972). The sex of individual turtles can usually be determined by shell dimensions. A male turtle has a greater degree of lower shell concavity, and a longer gular projection. However, the sex of tortoises at maturity size is difficult to determine (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 199O).
Population detail
The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Gopher tortoise
- Population location: Wherever found west of Mobile and Tombigbee Rivers in AL, MS, and LA
Listing status: Threatened
- States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur: Alabama , Louisiana , Mississippi
- USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:
BOGUE CHITTO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
,
MISSISSIPPI SANDHILL CRANE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
- Population location: U.S.A. (Florida)
Listing status: Under Review
- For more information: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/i/c/sac2v.html
- Population location: eastern
Listing status: Under Review
- States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur: Florida , Georgia , South Carolina
| Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/07/1987 | Southeast Region (Region 4) | W of of Mobile/Tombigbee Rs. | |
| Southeast Region (Region 4) | Florida | ||
| Southeast Region (Region 4) | eastern |
» Federal Register Documents
| Date | Citation Page | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 09/09/2009 | 74 FR 46401 46406 | 90-Day Finding on a Petition to List the Eastern Population of the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) as Threatened |
| 01/17/2001 | 66 FR 4036 4038 | Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment and Preliminary Finding of No Significant Impact, and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for Gopher Tortoises by the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners of the City of Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama |
| 11/15/1994 | 59 FR 58982 59028 | ETWP; Animal Candidate Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species. |
| 11/21/1991 | 56 FR 58804 58836 | ETWP; Animal Candidate Review for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species; 56 FR 58804 58836 |
| 01/06/1989 | 54 FR 554 579 | ETWP; Animal Notice of Review; 54 FR 554 579 |
» Recovery
Recovery Plan Information Search| Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/26/1990 | Gopher Tortoise | View Implementation Progress | Final |
» Critical Habitat
No critical habitat rules have been published for the Gopher tortoise.
» Conservation Plans
| HCP Plan Summaries |
|---|
| Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners |
| City of Palm Bay |
| Lamar County School Board |
| Langboard, Inc. |
| Perry County Board of Supervisors |
| SHA Plan Summaries |
|---|
| Martin Branch Woodland Tract (Lambert) SHA |
| CCA Plan Summaries |
|---|
| Gopher Tortoise Candidate Conservation Agreement |
» Petitions
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/09/2009 | 74 FR 46401 46406 | 90-Day Finding on a Petition to List the Eastern Population of the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) as Threatened | |
| 01/09/1986 | 51 FR 996 999 | Findings on Pending Petitions & Description of Progress on Listing Actions; 51 FR 996-999 | |
| 12/18/1984 | 49 FR 49118 49119 | Findings on 5 Petitions & of Review of 5 Species; 49 FR 49118-49119 |
» Life History
No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
