The Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri) is a species of tortoise in the familyTestudinidae. The species G. berlandieri is one of six species of tortoises that are native to North America.
The specific epithet, berlandieri, is in honor of naturalist Jean Louis Berlandier, who worked for the Mexican government on one of the first biological surveys of Texas.[1][4] As such, some sources refer to it as Berlandier's tortoise.[4][5]
Biologyedit
The Texas tortoise, unlike other species of gopher tortoise, is not an adept burrower. Its preferred habitat is dry scrub and grasslands. Succulent plants, a preferred food of the Texas tortoise, are common in these areas. It especially likes the fruit of cacti such as the prickly pear.
Conservation statusedit
Though considered an animal of low concern by the IUCN Red List, the Texas tortoise is listed as a threatened species in the state of Texas, and thus protected by state law. It is illegal to collect or possess them. The Mexican federal government lists Gopherus berlandieri as A (= Threatened) in Mexico.[6] Likewise, using Environmental Vulnerability Scores, Gopherus berlandieri scored 18, a high vulnerability species on a scale of 0–20, in evaluations of both Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon herpetofauna.[7][8] In 2018, the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group recommended a re-assessment and re-classification of all six Gopherus species.[9] This reclassification would move G. berlandieri from Near Endangered (NE) to Near Threatened (NT).[9]
Galleryedit
Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri), Val Verde Co, Texas, USA (2005).
Gopherus berlandieri, Bee Co. Texas, USA (June 2011).
Gopherus berlandieri, Bee Co. Texas, USA (2011).
Elongated gular scutes of male, Bee Co. Texas, USA (2011).
Texas tortoise (Gopherus berlandieri), Bee Co. Texas, USA (2023).
^Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). "Gopherus berlandieri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T9401A12983179. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T9401A12983179.en. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
^"Appendices". CITES. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.. Note: Protected as a member of the Testudinidae.
^Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 280–281. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. ISSN 1864-5755.
^ abBeolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Berlandier's Tortoise Gopherus berlandieri ", p. 24).
^Bour, Roger (2016). "Where and when was Jean Louis Berlandier born? Notes on Jean Louis Berlandier. I.". Bibliotheca Herpetologica12 (1 & 2): 18–40.
^Official Mexican STANDARD NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, Environmental Protection-Native species of Mexico of wild flora and fauna-Risk categories and specifications for inclusion, exclusion or change-List of species at risk. STANDARD NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 PDF
^Terán-Juárez, S. A., E. García-Padilla, V. Mata-Silva, J. D. Johnson, and L. D. Wilson (2016). "The herpetofauna of Tamaulipas, Mexico: composition, distribution, and conservation". Mesoamerican Herpetology3: 43–113.
^Nevárez-de los Reyes, M., D. Lazcano, E. García-Padilla, V. Mata-Silva, J. D. Johnson, and L. D. Wilson (2016). "The herpetofauna of Nuevo León, Mexico: composition, distribution, and conservation". Mesoamerican Herpetology3: 558–638.
^ abRhodin, Anders G. J.; Stanford, Craig B.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Eisemberg, Carla; Luiselli, Luca; Mittermeier, Russell A.; Hudson, Rick; Horne, Brian D.; Goode, Eric V.; Kuchling, Gerald; Walde, Andrew (December 2018). "Global Conservation Status of Turtles and Tortoises (Order Testudines)". Chelonian Conservation and Biology. 17 (2): 135–161. doi:10.2744/CCB-1348.1. ISSN 1071-8443. S2CID 91937716.
Referencesedit
External linksedit
Tortoise & Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (1996). "Gopherus berlandieri ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996. IUCN: e.T9401A12983179. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T9401A12983179.en. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
Species Gopherus berlandieri at The Reptile Database
Texas tortoise
Texas tortoise care sheet
April 08, 2024
texas, tortoise, gopherus, berlandieri, species, tortoise, family, testudinidae, species, berlandieri, species, tortoises, that, native, north, america, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, cites, appendix, cites, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryo. The Texas tortoise Gopherus berlandieri is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae The species G berlandieri is one of six species of tortoises that are native to North America Texas tortoiseConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 2 3 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder TestudinesSuborder CryptodiraSuperfamily TestudinoideaFamily TestudinidaeGenus GopherusSpecies G berlandieriBinomial nameGopherus berlandieri Agassiz 1857 Synonyms 3 Xerobates berlandieriAgassiz 1857 Testudo berlandieri Strauch 1862 Xerobates gopher berlandieri Gray 1873 Testudo tuberculataBerlandier 1882 nomen nudum Gopherus berlandieri Stejneger 1893 Gopherus polyphemus berlandieri Mertens amp Wermuth 1955 Gopherus berlandierii sic Reeves 1975 ex errore Scaptochelys berlandieri Bramble 1982 Gopherus berlanderi sic Rogner 1996 ex errore Contents 1 Geographic range 2 Etymology 3 Biology 4 Conservation status 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksGeographic range editG berlandieri is found from southern Texas southward into the Mexican states of Coahuila Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas Etymology editThe specific epithet berlandieri is in honor of naturalist Jean Louis Berlandier who worked for the Mexican government on one of the first biological surveys of Texas 1 4 As such some sources refer to it as Berlandier s tortoise 4 5 Biology editThe Texas tortoise unlike other species of gopher tortoise is not an adept burrower Its preferred habitat is dry scrub and grasslands Succulent plants a preferred food of the Texas tortoise are common in these areas It especially likes the fruit of cacti such as the prickly pear Conservation status editThough considered an animal of low concern by the IUCN Red List the Texas tortoise is listed as a threatened species in the state of Texas and thus protected by state law It is illegal to collect or possess them The Mexican federal government lists Gopherus berlandieri as A Threatened in Mexico 6 Likewise using Environmental Vulnerability Scores Gopherus berlandieri scored 18 a high vulnerability species on a scale of 0 20 in evaluations of both Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon herpetofauna 7 8 In 2018 the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group recommended a re assessment and re classification of all six Gopherus species 9 This reclassification would move G berlandieri from Near Endangered NE to Near Threatened NT 9 Gallery edit nbsp Texas tortoise Gopherus berlandieri Val Verde Co Texas USA 2005 nbsp Gopherus berlandieri Bee Co Texas USA June 2011 nbsp Gopherus berlandieri Bee Co Texas USA 2011 nbsp Elongated gular scutes of male Bee Co Texas USA 2011 nbsp Texas tortoise Gopherus berlandieri northern Tamaulipas Mexico 2007 nbsp Texas tortoise Gopherus berlandieri Bee Co Texas USA 2023 Tortoise amp Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996 Gopherus berlandieri IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996 e T9401A12983179 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 1996 RLTS T9401A12983179 en Retrieved 9 May 2023 Appendices CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 4 May 2023 Retrieved 9 May 2023 Note Protected as a member of the Testudinidae Fritz Uwe Havas Peter 2007 Checklist of Chelonians of the World Vertebrate Zoology 57 2 280 281 doi 10 3897 vz 57 e30895 ISSN 1864 5755 a b Beolens Bo Watkins Michael Grayson Michael 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Berlandier s Tortoise Gopherus berlandieri p 24 Bour Roger 2016 Where and when was Jean Louis Berlandier born Notes on Jean Louis Berlandier I Bibliotheca Herpetologica 12 1 amp 2 18 40 Official Mexican STANDARD NOM 059 SEMARNAT 2010 Environmental Protection Native species of Mexico of wild flora and fauna Risk categories and specifications for inclusion exclusion or change List of species at risk STANDARD NOM 059 SEMARNAT 2010 PDF Teran Juarez S A E Garcia Padilla V Mata Silva J D Johnson and L D Wilson 2016 The herpetofauna of Tamaulipas Mexico composition distribution and conservation Mesoamerican Herpetology 3 43 113 Nevarez de los Reyes M D Lazcano E Garcia Padilla V Mata Silva J D Johnson and L D Wilson 2016 The herpetofauna of Nuevo Leon Mexico composition distribution and conservation Mesoamerican Herpetology 3 558 638 a b Rhodin Anders G J Stanford Craig B van Dijk Peter Paul Eisemberg Carla Luiselli Luca Mittermeier Russell A Hudson Rick Horne Brian D Goode Eric V Kuchling Gerald Walde Andrew December 2018 Global Conservation Status of Turtles and Tortoises Order Testudines Chelonian Conservation and Biology 17 2 135 161 doi 10 2744 CCB 1348 1 ISSN 1071 8443 S2CID 91937716 References editExternal links editTortoise amp Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group 1996 Gopherus berlandieri The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996 IUCN e T9401A12983179 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 1996 RLTS T9401A12983179 en Retrieved 9 January 2018 Species Gopherus berlandieri at The Reptile DatabaseTexas tortoise Texas tortoise care sheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Texas tortoise amp oldid 1209745650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
