Gopher Tortoise

The Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is one of four species that lives only in North America. It has a large dark-brown to grayish shell, elephantine limbs, and a large grayish-black rounded head. Its shovel-like forefeet are used to excavate burrows that provide shelter. The Gopher Tortoise can reach lengths of more than 35cm and weigh over 10kg. There are physical differences between males and females. Female tortoises have a flattened bottom shell, or plastron and small tail, whereas males exhibit a highly concave plastron and large tail...

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Bog Turtle

The Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) is the smallest turtle species in North America, reaching only 4.5 inches in maximum carapace length, though shell lengths typically average between 3 and 4 inches. Bog Turtles are characterized by their small size, dark coloration, and large yellow to orange blotches on both sides of the head. These blotches vary in coloration from yellow, yellow-orange, orange, and orange-red from population to population. Bog Turtles have a black, brown, or mahogany colored carapace and an unhinged plastron that is typically black with yellow or cream colored spots along the midline....

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