Gopherus polyphemus
CR

Gopherus polyphemus

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gopher_tortoise

Overview

The gopher tortoise is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is 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.

G. polyphemus is threatened by predation and habitat destruction. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the gopher tortoise as "critically endangered," primarily because of habitat fragmentation and loss, and human exploitation; the animals are considered threatened in some states, while they are endangered in others.

The Gopher Tortoise faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from urban development, agriculture, and forestry practices that eliminate the open, sandy ecosystems it requires. Road mortality poses a significant threat as tortoises move slowly across increasingly fragmented landscapes. Collection for food and the pet trade historically reduced populations, while disease outbreaks and invasive fire ants attacking eggs and juveniles compound modern conservation challenges.

Threat summary

Habitat

Gopher Tortoises inhabit well-drained, sandy soils in longleaf pine forests, scrub oak woodlands, coastal dunes, and dry prairies throughout the southeastern United States. They require open canopy habitats maintained by periodic fires, where they excavate extensive burrow systems that can extend 40 feet in length and provide shelter for over 350 other species.

Conservation measures underway

Legislation

Other threatened species in TESTUDINIDAE

Indian Star TortoiseVU

Indian Star Tortoise

Geochelone elegans

Declining
VU

Chelonoidis vandenburghi

Increasing
Eastern Santa Cruz Giant TortoiseCR

Eastern Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise

Chelonoidis donfaustoi

Increasing
VU

Sonoran Desert Tortoise

Gopherus morafkai

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Gopherus polyphemus classified as Critically Endangered?
Gopherus polyphemus is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Gopher Tortoise faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from urban development, agriculture, and forestry practices that eliminate the open, sandy ecosystems it requires. Road mortality poses a significant threat as tortoises move slowly across increasingly fragmented landscapes. Collection for food and the pet trade historically reduced populations, while disease outbreaks and invasive fire ants attacking eggs and juveniles compound modern conservation challenges.
Where does Gopherus polyphemus live?
Gopherus polyphemus occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Gopherus polyphemus?
The main threats to Gopherus polyphemus are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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