Florida Turtles And Tortoises
In florida the gopher tortoise is listed as threatened.
Florida turtles and tortoises. As used in this section the term turtles includes all animals commonly known as turtles tortoises terrapins and all other animals of the order testudinata class reptilia except marine species families dermochelyidae and cheloniidae. Same thing with sea turtles or any wildlife especially if you. The gopher tortoise boasts thickset hind legs often compared to an elephant s and heavily scaled forelegs equipped with robust claws for burrowing. Gopher tortoises must be relocated before any land clearing or development takes place and property owners must obtain permits from the fwc before capturing and relocating tortoises.
Both the tortoise and its burrow are protected under state law. During the day they emerge to bask in the sun and forage for food mostly plant life. At florida iguana tortoise breeders we are a dedicated facility to the care and breeding of giant land tortoises and west indies cyclura rock iguanas. Gopher tortoises are one of those those are protected species here in florida so it s recommended to not touch them in general.
Zoo med is the number one reptile product manufacturer in the world. Cool facts about turtles. Florida mud turtle kinosternon subrubrum steindachneri. Florida redbelly turtle pseudemys nelsoni.
They live year round in large burrows often measuring thirty feet in length. Turtles are the oldest reptiles in the world older than alligators. Due to a great deal of research and testing at our facility in 2009 from 2010 we have been feeding all of our turtles and tortoises with zoo med laboratories products. The biggest may have shells a foot or more in length.
Our tortoise farm only breeds and produces captive bred tortoises and land turtles for sale. The gopher tortoise gopherus polyphemus pictured inhabits sandy soil areas in the southeastern united states from florida to the eastern parts of louisiana. Florida has twenty six turtles and one tortoise the gopher tortoise. A uniform gray gopher tortoises lack the intricate patterning of box turtles and grow substantially larger.
We are a proud member of the zaa zoological association of america and we are an approved and accredited breeding facility by the zaa. A turtle s shell is part of its skeleton made up of 50 bones including their rib cage and spine. Checklist of florida turtles click on thumbnails for a larger view apalone ferox schneider 1783 florida softshell. Non native in florida keys apalone mutica le sueur 1827 smooth softshell apalone mutica calvata webb 1959 gulf coast smooth softshell apalone spinifera le sueur 1827 spiny softshell apalone spinifera aspera agassiz 1857 gulf coast spiny softshell.
Welcome to florida iguana tortoises breeders. Different turtles have different appetites.
