Gopher Tortoise
- Gopherus Polyphemus
- This species has a brown or tan domed shell and averages between 7-12 inches.
- They are native to the southeastern United States where they inhabit sandy ridges and dunes as well as pine forests.
- Adults do not mature until they reach 16-20 years of ages, living to 40 years or more.
- They feed mainly on grasses and low shrubs with occasional fruits and berries.
- The gopher tortoise is known as a keystone species because many other animals depend on their burrows such as diamondback rattlesnakes, indigo snakes, and burrowing owls.
- It is protected under the US Endangered Species Act as a threatened species.
Location at Palm Beach Zoo
- Great Horned Owl Exhibit on west side of the Zoo
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