Texas Tortoise

Texas Tortoise ♂, Gopherus berlandieri

The Texas tortoise is a threatened species found throughout southern Texas and into northeastern Mexico. Of the four species of tortoises found within North America, the Texas tortoise, Gopherus berlandieri, is the only one in Texas. It is also the smallest with a shell length of about 22 cm (8.5 in) as well as the most sexually dimorphic. Males have a modified gular extension which is used to battle and compete with other males. While they can live as long as at least sixty years, they do not sexually mature until fifteen years of age. In addition, females lay only one to two clutches a year averaging three eggs per clutch. They are vegetarian with a diet composed mainly of grasses, forbs, and cactus.

Gular scute (extension) on a male Texas tortoise.

Although protected by law, Texas tortoises face many threats including habitat loss, illegal collection, predation, and disease. They have a very limited home range, close to the size of a city block. Move beyond that range, they rarely survive. As with other turtle species, the Texas tortoise is highly susceptible to disease, and therefore should never be touched or move in the wild unless helping one cross a road.

The above Texas tortoise resides at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary after legal rescue and transfer by Texas Parks and Wildlife. He was illegally removed from his home far south and dumped out of range far north. As he is now non-releasable, he is on display under the education display permit EDU-0609-114 from Texas Parks and Wildlife. It is illegal to hold any native wildlife in the state of Texas (or native bird in the United States) without a proper permit.