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Definition of gopher tortoise

gopher tortoise

Plural:gopher tortoises
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• noun

1

American A moderately large terrestrial turtle native to the southeastern United States, recognized as a keystone species for its habit of digging extensive, deep burrows that provide critical shelter for numerous other animal species.

Example

"Conservation efforts in Florida often focus on protecting the habitat of the gopher tortoise, whose burrows are vital to the survival of the eastern indigo snake and the burrowing owl."

• Nearby Words

goosey
gopher
gopher snake
gopher tortoise
goral
gordita
gore

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gopher tortoise. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gopher-tortoise
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