Essay On Gopher Tortoise

The gopherus polyphemus, more commonly known as the gopher tortoise, is a species of tortoise found in the southeastern states of the United States. Gopher tortoises have many distinguishing behaviors and physical traits that set it apart from other species of tortoises. They have a significant impact on their ecologic system, but unfortunately face a number of variables that have caused a sharp decline in their population.
Gopher tortoises can be distinguished for their large size, their tough and unhinged plastron, and their stumpy webbed feet. Hatchlings and juvenile gopher tortoises usually display more brightly colored plastrons and shells until they get older. They tend to live 50+ years so they reach sexual maturity between 12 and 15 years. As adults, their color variation ranges between brownish gray to dark or yellowish tan. Males are smaller in size than their female counterparts, however their tails are larger and they have extended shells under their chins that are used for ramming or butting. Like all turtles, males also have concave plastrons. This species has “shovel-like” front legs that aid them in digging, and back legs that resemble “elephant-like hind legs”. When they reach sexual maturity they
Grasses and legumes are the most prominent staples in their diets, but due to their scavenging nature they have sometimes been known to feed on dead animal remains and excrements. They tend to eat plants like the prickly pear cactus, pine needles , and stinging nettles. Fruits like gopher apples, blackberries, palmetto berries, and blueberries are also included in their diet. Since their diet is rich in water because of their components and dew, they rarely need to drink it. Sometimes they wait for water to run down into their burrows, but during periods of drought they have been seen drinking standing water on the sides of