Help identify this tortoise

[Monmo316]

We just saw him on our front porch steps and are wondering what kind of tortoise is he and any information will help thank you!

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

What part of the world do you live in?

 

[wellington]

If it's native to where you live leave it be. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe @HermanniChris can ID

 

[Monmo316]

What part of the world do you live in?

Florida

 

[Pearly]

Gopherus?

 

[HermanniChris]

It's a Gopher tortoise without a doubt.

 

[Pearly]

It's a Gopher tortoise without a doubt.

Yeayyyy!!! I'm getting better at this!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

Florida is pretty strict about their Gopher tortoises. You'd best put it back outside in a safe place and leave it alone. Are you in a rural area?

 

[teresaf]

That doesn't look like the gopher tortoises around me....

 

[Yvonne G]

They look different when they're young.

 

[Pearly]

That doesn't look like the gopher tortoises around me....View attachment 204889

Maybe yours is adult?

 

[teresaf]

Maybe...But in the seven months that I've been in Florida I haven't seen ANY that didn't look dark gray and smooth like that. Kinda weird.

 

[teresaf]

@HermanniChris ?

 

[Markw84]

Agree. Gopher tortoise with central parts of many scutes chipped off. Fairly young though.

 

[HermanniChris]

Definitely a Gopher tortoise. There's no question about it. Let's all always keep in mind that nature will always and forever surprise us with variation. We can't always pay attention to color or markings. We need to focus more on structure, shape, geography and other traits pertaining to phenotypes. That animal certainly is a Gopher tortoise.

 

[teresaf]

Definitely a Gopher tortoise. There's no question about it. Let's all always keep in mind that nature will always and forever surprise us with variation. We can't always pay attention to color or markings. We need to focus more on structure, shape, geography and other traits pertaining to phenotypes. That animal certainly is a Gopher tortoise.

Ok. So structurally it doesn't look like the ones in my neighborhood either. Ours have shells shaped like old German army helmets. The edge schutes on their sides aren't upswept?

 

[HermanniChris]

It's a younger animal. These are traits assignable to its age group.

 

[Pearly]

Ok. So structurally it doesn't look like the ones in my neighborhood either. Ours have shells shaped like old German army helmets. The edge schutes on their sides aren't upswept?

The German helmets make me think of... boxturles???... but then I maybe way off on it! Still having to learn a lot about tortoises/turtles!

 

[teresaf]

The German helmets make me think of... boxturles???... but then I maybe way off on it! Still having to learn a lot about tortoises/turtles!

No definitely gopher tortoises. Seen them on a program lately and they look just like mine in my neighborhood.... They found one 18 inches long!

 

[counting]

The gopher tortoise I know is a really very old, and tan and brown. He originated in Florida. So I suppose there's all kinds of variation