gopher tortoise

noun

any North American burrowing tortoise of the genus Gopherus, especially G. polyphemus, of the southeastern U.S.: several species are now reduced in number.

Origin of gopher tortoise

¹

First recorded in 1785–95; see origin at gopher¹

Also called gopher turtle, gopher.

Words Nearby gopher tortoise

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gopher tortoise in a sentence

In fact, the gopher tortoises of the southeastern US are considered a keystone species due to the hundreds of other animals who take shelter in their abandoned burrows.
How to turn your garden into a tortoise sanctuary | Natalie Wallington | September 21, 2021 | Popular-Science

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