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Glite Dictionary
🐢 A burrowing tortoise 🐢 Tortoise group
Gopherus

Gopherus

9.9
A group of North American tortoises that dig burrows in dry or semi-dry areas
  • proper noun
  • /ˈɡoʊfərəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Gopherus
  • In Florida, the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is recognized as a threatened species due to habitat loss.
  • Gopherus agassizii
  • Gopherus tortoise
  • desert Gopherus tortoise

Examples

  • The gopher tortoise (Gopherus) is an important species for maintaining the health of its ecosystem.

  • From a conservation standpoint, one of the most important species in the desert Southwest is Agassiz's desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii; figure 1).

    Academic text (2011)

  • Keywords: conservation-reliant species; Endangered Species Act; Gopherus agassizii; recovery; threatened species.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Figure 1. Agassiz's desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii).

    Academic text (2011)

  • Ocean-going species are sea turtles, and members of the family Testudinidae, such as the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), are considered tortoises.

    Blog text (9)

  • Scientists study the gopher tortoise (Gopherus) to understand its role in the desert ecosystem.

Compounds

Gopherus agassizii
  • Specialized
9.9

A burrowing tortoise that lives in dry deserts of the western United States and northern Mexico

Gopherus polyphemus
  • Specialized
9.9

A burrowing land tortoise from the southeastern United States that makes large burrows and shelters other animals

Surface Forms

Gopherus main

Etymology

Gopherus is a scientific name named after the common animal gopher, which 'burrows' underground. Because these tortoises also dig long underground homes, the name points to their burrowing habit.