the dusky antbird or tyrannine antbird ( cercomacroides tyrannina ) is a passerine bird in the antbird family .

it is a resident breeder in tropical central and south america from southeastern mexico southwards to western ecuador , and amazonian brazil .

this is a common bird in the understory thickets of wet forest , especially at edges and clearings , and in adjacent tall second growth .

the female lays two reddish-brown-spotted white eggs , which are incubated by both sexes , in a small , deep , plant fibre and dead leaf cup nest , which is suspended from the fork of a thin branch or vine low in a tree .

the male and female parents both feed the chicks .

the dusky antbird is typically 14.5 cm long , and weighs 18 g .

the adult male is mainly blackish-grey above and paler grey below , with two white wing bars .

the female has brown upperparts and rufous-cinnamon underparts .

young birds , especially males , are darker than the adults .

exact plumage shades vary geographically , since there are a number of subspecies of this antbird .

this species has a whistled kick call , and the song is a duet , the male ’s ascending whistle pu pu pe pi pi answered by the female ’s softer , jerky juu-ut juu-ut juu-ut juu-ut juu-ut .

the dusky antbird is normally found as pairs throughout the year and does not join mixed-species feeding flocks .

it feeds on insects and other arthropods taken from twigs and foliage in thickets or vine tangles .

it is easier to hear than see in its dense habitat .

dusky antbird

. mating system of the dusky antbird , a tropical passerine , as assessed by dna fingerprinting .
morton es , stutchbury bjm , in press . demography and reproductive success in the dusky antbird , a sedentary tropical passerine .
the relationship between years a dusky antbird territory was monitored and natural replacement rate of male and female occupants . bubble size indicates number of observations , ranging from 1 - 6 .
eugene s . morton , kim c . derrickson , bridget j . m . stutchbury ; territory switching behavior in a sedentary tropical passerine , the dusky antbird ( cercomacra tyrannina ) , behavioral ecology , volume 11 , issue 6 , 1 november 2000 , pages 648–653 , urltoken
in common with other cercomacra antbirds , the dusky antbird is predominantly gray in males with white wing markings and a white interscapular patch , whilst females are largely warm cinnamon below , with darker brown upperparts and pale rufous wing spotting . it is one of the most geographically widespread of the genus , being found across much of middle america , from southeast mexico southwards , thence across much of northern south america south as far as northern brazil . populations in northeast brazil and in central and eastern amazonia that were previously included within this species are now ascribed to the willis’s antbird ( cercomacra laeta ) . throughout its range , the dusky antbird inhabits the understory of lowland and foothill forests below 1900 m , but rarely ventures far from edges .
new territories are established rarely , even in good dusky antbird habitat . the reason may be that territory establishment is constrained by predation ( lima , 1998 ) . dusky antbirds forage in dense habitat and do not have the predator - detection advantage gained by membership in interspecific flocks ( morse , 1977 ; munn and terborgh , 1979 ; powell , 1985 ; terborgh , 1990 ) . accordingly , birds switched territories only when a mate with experience on that territory was there , as evidenced by its special courtship songs .
zimmer , k . , isler , m . l . & christie , d . a . ( 2018 ) . dusky antbird ( cercomacroides tyrannina ) . in : del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . , sargatal , j . , christie , d . a . & de juana , e . ( eds . ) . handbook of the birds of the world alive . lynx edicions , barcelona . ( retrieved from urltoken on 9 july 2018 ) .
we compared the territories birds abandoned and those moved to in several ways . because song output may be directly related to territory quality in many species ( e . g . , morton , 1986 ) , we counted the number of songs by males and females and the number of duet songs delivered during the dawn chorus on these territories during 10 mornings in february and march 1994 . dusky antbird dawnsinging lasted about 1 h , beginning about 0615 h and ending by 0730h .
we suspect that intensive study of banded populations will find that territory switching is common and that stable pairbonding in tropical species with year - round territoriality is more apparent than real . willis ( 1974 ) describes switching territories in the spotted antbird ( hylophylax naevioides ) , with females twice as likely to move as males . as with dusky antbirds , spotted antbirds moved to vacancies ; they did not defeat owners . checker - throated antwrens ( myrmotherula fulviventris ) also switch territories , with 37 % of adults , regardless of age and sex , moving to neighboring territories at least once in their lives ( greenberg and gradwohl , 1997 ) . more studies using removals are needed to document territory switching and mate replacement tactics in tropical birds .
this tropical mating system , termed “permanent monogamy” by freed ( 1987 ) , is the most prevalent but least studied mating system among birds ( mock , 1985 ) . here we report an 8 - year study of this system in a tropical passerine bird , the dusky antbird ( cercomacra tyrannina ) . pairs appear to remain together and jointly defend territories year - round ( morton and derrickson , 1996 ) . with an annual survivorship of 0 . 82 , which does not differ between genders ( morton and stutchbury , in press ) , few vacancies due to deaths would be expected ( ashmole , 1963 ; ricklefs , 1980 ) . under these conditions , floaters are expected ( smith , 1978 ) and male and female vacancies should be filled equally rapidly .
we infer that floaters are uncommon in antbirds . forty - three percent of territories ( 12 out of 28 ) remained unoccupied when their occupants disappeared naturally or due to our removal experiments ( 43 % of vacancies ) . most replacements were birds that switched territories rather than previously non - territorial birds . furthermore , during the entire 8 year study , antbird pairs disappeared from 10 territories and were not replaced . the only new territories ( n = 4 ) were established by juveniles , in pairs .
territories were not enlarged nor did their occupants change their boundaries over our 8 year study . territorial boundaries remained the same on 36 territories that were occupied continuously during the study , even with turnover of individuals occupying them . the few territories that lost both occupants ( n = 4 ) were not annexed by pairs of antbirds in adjacent territories . thus , dusky antbirds apparently do not expand territories when the opportunity to do so exists .
longevity would be enhanced if birds switched to territories better for surviving periods of low food availability . our study took place during the dry season , when insect abundance is lowest ( janzen , 1973 ; janzen and schoener , 1968 ; wolda , 1978 ) . dusky antbirds may experience food stress during the dry season months and , as evidence of this , are missing from what appears to be excellent habitat on the drier parts of the pacific coast of panama only 15 km from our study site . territory switches clearly were related to food resources in lesser sheathbills ( chionis minor ) ( bried and jouventin , 1998 ) . the reasons for such switches are less obvious in dusky antbirds . perhaps birds are able to judge , through their own foraging success on their current territories , how much of a gamble it would be to switch to another territory when a vacancy arises ?
we captured , measured , and colorbanded dusky antbirds occupying from 14 , at the start of the project in 1991 , to 50 territories in 1996 . we captured pairs in a single mist net set up over a speaker playing back pair duets ( see morton and derrickson , 1996 ) . once one or both adults on a territory were banded , that territory was visited each year 10 - 30 times and replacement individuals captured and colorbanded . demographic data are presented elsewhere ( morton and stutchbury , 2000 ) .
males and females differ in plumage and song , produced in duets or separately ( morton and derrickson , 1996 ) . males weigh 16 . 0 g ( n = 18 ) and females 15 . 2 g ( n = 11 ) . males retain a female - like plumage ( brownish rusty - orange below , olive - brown above ) until one year of age , when they attain the dark grayish adult male coloration . during this juvenal plumage , males can be identified in the field by their use of the male song . eye color allows aging of both genders up to 3 years of age ( morton and stutchbury , 2000 ) . dusky antbirds neither join in mixed species flocks nor regularly pursue prey displaced by army ants ( willis , 1985 ) . they defend territories vigorously at all times of year ( morton and derrickson , 1996 ) . special gender - specific courtship songs function to attract a new mate ( morton , 1996 ) . dusky antbirds are socially and genetically monogamous ( fleischer et al . , 1997 ) .
in a population of dusky antbirds ( cercomacra tyrannina ) , less aggressive responses to distance - degraded playbacks than to undegraded playbacks of pair duets show that this tropical suboscine passerine uses sound degradation to range distance from singing conspecifics . this is the first example of song - ranging in a species that does not learn songs , supporting the hypothesis that ranging preceded the song learning that occurs in more recently evolved passerine birds ( oscines ) . both sexes sing and are able to use song degradation to range distance from singers when their sex - specific song is played back .
dusky antbirds are members of the suboscine passerine family thamnophilidae , a species - rich neotropical group ( sibley and monroe , 1990 ) . pairs defend territories year - round in brushy forest edge habitat where they forage 0 . 5 - 10 m up in vines , and vine - covered tree branches , shrubs , and grass . nests are small ( ca 23 cm long ) bags made of black rhizomorphs ( fungal “horsehair” ) , suspended 1 - 4 m above the ground from the end of vertical vines or bamboo shoots ( chusquea spp . ) , always well - shaded and isolated from surrounding vegetation ( and climbing predators ) by 1 - 2 m . these nest site requirements are not uncommon but are fulfilled only by shade produced by forest trees , and not the shrubs and grass used for foraging . dusky antbirds , therefore , are restricted to forest edge and gap habitat ( williams - linera , 1990 ) . birds glean invertebrates from bark and leaf surfaces , hopping along branches and making quick dashes or brief hovers , and also poke into , and tap with their beaks , curled leaves or dead leaves caught in vines .
our study took place during 1991 - 1998 in central panama in the parque nacional soberania near gamboa along the pipeline road and in gamboa . the region is covered with mesic tropical forest and has abundant forest edge habitat used by dusky antbirds . there are distinct wet ( may—december ) and dry ( january—april ) seasons . we logged 16 . 7 dry season months and 4 . 8 wet season months in the field during these years . we studied breeding season behavior in the early rainy season , may—july in 1994 and 1995 ( see fleischer et al . , 1997 ) . data presented here were obtained mostly in the dry season , when the birds do not breed .
these data suggest that dusky antbirds are not limited by availability of territories . the data do not support the ashmole / ricklefs hypothesis that low adult mortality could influence reproductive rate through a density - dependent effect on food supply ( ricklefs , 2000 ) . while population size may be stable ( greenberg and gradwohl , 1986 ) this does not necessarily mean recruitment opportunities are low because carrying capacity has been reached ( ashmole , 1963 ; cody , 1971 ; ricklefs , 1980 ; slagsvold , 1980 ) . adult survivorship was high ( 82 % ) but the likelihood that a pair raised young to independence averaged only 8 % per year in our population ( morton and stutchbury , in press ) . high quality territories , however , may be limited and most birds switch to get higher quality territories that enhance longevity .
we studied territory acquisition and the stability of pair bonds by conducting removal experiments and tracking a colorbanded population of dusky antbirds . we determined that territory and mate switching is common and examined a series of questions concerning the evolution of territory switching . do replacement mates come from a non - territorial floater population or do territory owners abandon current territories and mates to become replacement mates ? does one gender leave territories more than the other does ? what qualities of territories make them attractive or unattractive to potential replacement birds ? are territories limited ? do territory boundaries change when replacement or removal occurs , how long does it take for a removed bird to be replaced and are there gender difference in the likelihood of being replaced ? we discuss these questions in relation to the evolution of territory switching as a potentially widespread life history trait in tropical birds .
a tropical / temperate difference concerned the frequency of removed owners regaining their territories from replacements . temperate zone removals show that the probability that replacements will defeat the former resident increases with replacement time ( beletsky , 1996 ; krebs , 1982 ) . this is often a matter of only a day or two . these territories are used only for breeding . in contrast , dusky antbirds regained their yearlong territories regardless of replacement time up to 10 days , even though replacements fought longer after they occupied a territory more than 48 h ( figure 2 ) . perhaps released owners won because replacements could , and did , return to the territory they emigrated from and oust their replacements , if any . removed residents , in contrast , did not have such an alternative to move to . the released owners ' motivation to fight may have been higher than their replacements ' motivation due to this asymmetry .
demographic data from an 8 - year study of a marked population showed that switching territories and mates is common in both genders of dusky antbirds ( cercomacra tyrannina ) , a sedentary neotropical passerine with year - round territories and pairbonds . we conducted 22 experimental removals and followed six natural disappearances to examine territory switching . antbirds quickly abandoned territories and mates to move to openings created by experimental removals . pairing with the resident on a new territory was rapid . unmated birds attracted new mates by singing a gender - specific song that differed from songs given by mated birds . there were no gender differences in replacement time or rate . some vacancies , experimental and natural , were not filled , suggesting that floaters were rare . territory and mate switching were not related to immediate enhancement of reproductive success because the probability of reproducing successfully was equally poor on all territories . territory switching may be an overlooked but common tropical form of territoriality that increases individual survivorship during periods of low food abundance ( dry season ) . we suggest that switching is favored when low annual reproductive success enhances selection for a long lifespan as the primary means to increase reproductive success .
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sacc . 2005 and updates . a classification of the bird species of south america . available at : urltoken .
justification : this species has an extremely large range , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the range size criterion ( extent of occurrence < 20 , 000 km 2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be stable , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is very large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
partners in flight ( a . panjabi in litt . 2008 ) trend justification : this species has the ability to persist in secondary habitats ( del hoyo et al . 2003 ) and its population is suspected to be stable .
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) , in neotropical birds online ( t . s . schulenberg , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , ny , usa . retrieved from neotropical birds online :
two individuals heard at dawn chorus on forest edge of premontane forest . many backgorund species , the vocalization of this species is the frecuent
ju - ut jut - ut jut - ut jut - ut
. cut was extracted of a longer cut of a dawn chorus on forest edge . recording distance was probably 10 meters .
female singing and foraging about 3 m from me . recording was normalized to - 3 db .
a male and a female calling back and forth with another male . i was about 3 m from the pair and about 6 m from the individual male . these are the same males as in xc372769 . recording starts with churring from the pair , then the male singing his clicky , 2 - element song ( e . g . , 0 : 22 ) , joined by the female with her clear , 1 - element song ( e . g . , 0 : 24 ) .
two males calling back and forth . i was about 3 m from one and about 6 m from the other .
hormiguero no observado entre arbustos , borde de bosque tropical húmedo en piedemonte amazónico de cordillera andina oriental colombiana . inicialmente una grabación misteriosa identificada por diego calderón .
on riverside trail . seen , but not especially well . flew out and calling in response to playback .
humid lowland rainforest . reference : jn4 . krabbe & nilsson ( 2003 ) ( isbn 90 - 75838 - 06 - 9 ) .
humid lowland rainforest . reference : jn2 . krabbe & nilsson ( 2003 ) ( isbn 90 - 75838 - 06 - 9 ) .
humid secondary forest . reference : jn1 . krabbe & nilsson ( 2003 ) ( isbn 90 - 75838 - 06 - 9 ) .
sonogram images © xeno - canto foundation . sonogram images share the same license terms as the recording they depict .
until recently treated as conspecific with c . laeta , and also included c . parkeri as a highland population . recent comprehensive molecular study # r indicates it is closest to c . serva . at least some of plumage differences on which races were based appear due to clinal variation ; analysis of other parameters required in order to define geographical populations more accurately , so ranges listed are provisional . vocal differences between populations of middle america plus magdalena valley ( colombia ) and other taxa / populations in south america merit investigation # r . proposed race rufiventris ( e panama ) included in nominate , based on study of plumage variation . four subspecies recognized .
( bangs , 1901 ) – se mexico ( se veracruz , ne oaxaca and n chiapas e to s quintana roo ) , belize , guatemala and honduras ( caribbean slope ) s to w panama ( w & c chiriquí , bocas del toro , nw veraguas ) .
( p . l . sclater , 1855 ) – c & e panama ( e from e chiriquí , w colón and ne coclé ) , colombia ( pacific slope , lower cauca and magdalena valleys , and e of andes s to r caquetá ) , w ecuador ( s to s guayas , one record in el oro ) , s venezuela ( nw bolívar , amazonas ) and extreme nw brazil ( n amazonas w of lower r negro , s to r japurá ) .
( todd , 1927 ) – nw venezuela ( s zulia s to táchira , w andes n to mérida and e andes n to r guanaré , portuguesa ) and e slope of andes in n colombia ( casanare ) .
( c . chubb , 1918 ) – venezuela ( s & e bolívar ) , the guianas and ne amazonian brazil ( roraima and from e of lower r negro e to amapá ) .
13·5–14·5 cm ; 15–19 g . male nominate race is slate - coloured above , wings and tail somewhat darker , interscapular patch white , wing - coverts and outer rectrices . . .
male loudsong typically a series of relatively short notes at even pitch and pace except for lower - . . .
thick understorey of lowland and foothill evergreen forest at edges of clearings , stream edges , . . .
feeds on variety of insects , including beetles ( coleoptera ) , lepidopteran larvae , wasps ( hymenoptera ) , hemipterans , homopterans , . . .
feb–oct in costa rica and panama and aug–nov in amazonian brazil ; additional nest and egg descriptions from nicaragua and . . .
not globally threatened . fairly common to common throughout its extensive range . regions inhabited by this species encompass numerous protected parks and reserves . its . . .
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recent phylogenetic studies # r # r # r have led to internal clarification of family and its division into two subfamilies , thamnophilinae and myrmornithinae ; subsequent work has erected a third , euchrepomidinae ( see below , euchrepomis ) .
recent phylogenetic studies # r # r # r have led to distribution of taxa included herein into five tribes , microrhopiini , formicivorini , thamnophilini , pithyini and pyriglenini .
recently split from cercomacra # r on basis of comprehensive molecular study # r . genus is feminine due to original usage by describers # r .
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combined with a declining or fluctuating range size , habitat extent / quality , or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation ) . the population trend appears to be stable , and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population trend criterion ( > 30 % decline over ten years or three generations ) . the population size is very large , and hence does not approach the thresholds for vulnerable under the population size criterion ( < 10 , 000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be > 10 % in ten years or three generations , or with a specified population structure ) . for these reasons the species is evaluated as least concern .
recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : cercomacroides tyrannina . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 . recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species : birdlife international ( 2018 ) iucn red list for birds . downloaded from urltoken on 09 / 07 / 2018 .
morton , e . & derrickson , k . behav ecol sociobiol ( 1996 ) 39 : 195 . urltoken
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cercomacra tyrannina [ tyrannina or rufiventris ] : cent . panama to e colombia , s venezuela and nw brazil
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address correspondence to e . s . morton . e - mail : emorton @ urltoken .
year - round territoriality with permanent pairbonds is a common breeding system of tropical passerines but is nearly absent in temperate passerines . many insectivorous tropical birds , 65 % of passerine species in panama ( morton , 1980 ) , for example , have longstanding , nearly unchanging , territory boundaries and low turnover in adults . the stability ( greenberg and gradwohl , 1986 , 1997 ) that these characteristics provide to neighborhoods of conspecifics is unknown in temperate birds .
few studies have examined pair stability in tropical birds , where the constraints on mate choice and territory switching are vastly different than for long - distance migrants that breed in the temperate zone . freed ( 1987 ) documented long - term pairbonds , generally for life , in tropical house wrens ( troglodytes aedon ) . he showed that these long - term pairbonds result from constraints rather than any direct reproductive advantages . furthermore , removal experiments have rarely been done in tropical birds ( e . g . , levin , 1996 ; morton , 1977 ) . removals in temperate zone studies generally show that floaters ( previously non - territorial ) replace removed individuals ( e . g . , smith , 1987 ; zack and stutchbury , 1992 ) . often replacement birds are of younger age or lower quality ( hogstad , 1989 ; mönkkönen , 1990 ; sherry and holmes , 1989 ) . beletsky ( 1996 ) summarizes extensive removal experiments in redwinged blackbirds ( agelaius phoeniceus ) designed to study territorial acquisition and retention .
from 1991 to 1995 we removed 12 male and 10 female antbirds from their territories . we always left one member of the pair on the territory from which a removal was made . also , we observed natural disappearances of two females and four males from their territories . birds were captured in mist nets and transported in paper bags to holding cages . they were provided with mealworms and water ad libitum and kept individually in small ( 46 × 46 × 46 cm ) hardware cloth cages covered with plastic camouflage mesh , to mimic a dense vine habitat , and kept in a room with ambient light and temperature for from 12 to 216 h . birds were weighed when captured and when released back on their territories . this procedure worked well for this species , which has never before been kept in captivity , and we lost no individuals .
the removal experiments provided us the opportunity to monitor replacement behavior . we monitored the territory for replacement birds for the first 2 h after a removal and thereafter every 2 to 4 h . the bird still on the territory began singing a distinctive “courtship” song within 5 min of the removal ( morton , 1996 ) . we used the presence of this courtship song to determine whether a replacement mate had arrived . the occurrence of duets indicated a replacement was consorting with the bird remaining on the territory . we played back duet songs to draw birds within view to either confirm the absence of replacements or to check for colorbands on replacements ( morton and derrickson , 1996 ) . we called new birds on the territory “replacements” when they were the same gender as the removed bird and when they sang duets with , and remained close to , the mates of the removed birds .
the original territory owner was released on the territory after a replacement had settled . replacement time refers to the number of h between a replacement ' s arrival and the owner ' s release whereas “time to be replaced” is the number of h between the owner ' s removal and the arrival of a replacement . after one observer had the replacement in view , birds held in captivity were released back on their territories at the point of capture . a second observer monitored the released bird and recorded observations on the movements and behavior of the birds until one bird left the territory .
natural disappearances were ascertained by the appearance of the courtship song and confirmed when only single , formerly paired birds , responded to duet playbacks . these territories were monitored 3 - 4 times per week for replacements .
we also measured territory area and estimated the amount of foraging substrate it contained . to measure territorial boundaries , we mapped the singing and foraging locations of pairs . we also used playbacks to elicit territorial defense movements , noting where pairs stopped advancing towards the playback speaker . foraging substrate volume for each territory was estimated as the number of m 3 of vines , shrubs , grass , and vine - covered tree branches from 0 . 5 to 10 m above the ground at the edge of the forest ( williams - linera , 1990 ) .
males and females were replaced with equal frequency and as rapidly . of 16 males ( 12 removed and four natural disappearances ) , nine were replaced and seven were never replaced . of 12 females ( 10 removed and two natural disappearances ) , five were replaced and seven were never replaced . this difference was not significant ( fisher ' s exact test , χ 2 = 1 . 266 , p < . 44 ) . neither was there a gender difference in the time between removal of owners and arrival of replacements , comparing only owners that were replaced ( mann - whitney u test , u = 17 . 5 , p = . 71 ) . for nine males replacement took 9 . 6 ± 2 . 90 ( se ) h and for five females replacement took 12 . 6 ± 3 . 03 h ( figure 1 ) .
cumulative frequency plot of time to be replaced for males ( n = 9 , circles ) and females ( n = 5 , squares ) experimentally removed from territories .
most replacements were colorbanded birds ( six of nine males and three of five female replacements ) that left territories and mates to replace removed birds . the unbanded replacement birds also may have been territory - holders , rather than floaters , because all were in adult plumage . furthermore , 43 % ( 12 of 28 ) of the vacancies created by this territory switching remained unfilled , suggesting that floaters were rare .
owners won back their territories regardless of when we removed them or the tenure of their replacements , with one exception . one male , after 48 h off territory , was unable to regain his territory from a replacement , which had been on the territory for 47 h . instead , he moved to his replacement ' s former territory , which was adjacent to his original territory . he had lost 2 . 9 g in captivity , 18 % of his weight at capture . this weight loss , the greatest experienced by any removed bird , was caused by unusually stressful housing ( due to circumstances beyond our control ) .
when birds were removed for 48 h or less , little fighting occurred between the released owner and the replacement . the released owner threatened the replacement by exposing a white backspot ( see morton and derrickson , 1996 ) , and replacements fled . some chases occurred , but no fights . after longer periods of residency , replacements confronted released owners and fought . birds grappled and fell , fighting , to the ground , where we could see and hear them flapping and pecking one another in the leaf litter . we never observed such fights to occur naturally . the duration of chasing and fighting between the released owner and the replacement depended on the tenure of the replacement birds on the territory ( figure 2 ; anova , f 1 , 11 = 4 . 315 , p = . 06 ) . one female / female confrontation lasted for 120 min despite a relatively short tenure by the replacement ( figure 2 ) . if this outlier is removed , the relationship between fight duration and tenure becomes highly significant ( f 1 , 10 = 30 . 253 , p = . 0003 ) .
duration of fights between replacement and released owner in relation to time replacement was on territory during owner ' s absence . one male was omitted because he did not regain his territory from the replacement . males , circles ; females , squares .
how common is mate and territory switching under natural conditions on unmanipulated territories ? as our data are based on annual surveys and not continuous monitoring , they are minimum estimates of turnover rates . also , we can not differentiate between death and emigration of occupants in many cases . overall , we monitored 35 male changes on 32 territories for 143 territory - years ( 0 . 25 terr yr - 1 ) and 21 female changes on 24 territories for 93 territory - years ( 0 . 23 terr yr - 1 ) . the difference in sample sizes is due to the fact that we were unable to capture females on some territories , despite repeated attempts , because males respond to song playbacks more quickly than females , often hitting the mist net first ( morton and derrickson , 1996 ) .
a bird may disappear from a territory because it died or because it emigrated . we estimated the rate of disappearance due to emigration alone by comparing the number of occupant disappearances with number of birds that were known to have emigrated because they were found living on another territory . in 16 adjacent territories , where nearly all birds were banded , 34 birds disappeared during 8 years . sixteen of these birds ( 47 % ) were later found to be living on another territory . this ( 0 . 27 terr - 1 yr - 1 ) is a minimal estimate of disappearance due to emigration because birds that moved out of the study area would be missed . we conclude that territory switches , or emigration , occurs commonly under natural conditions .
the replacement rate varied greatly among territories ( figure 3 ) . some territories had no changes for many years whereas others approached one change in occupant per year . there was a significant correlation between male and female replacement rates on territories ( r s = 0 . 47 , p = . 04 , n = 13 ) monitored from 3 - 6 years . this suggests that males and females valued territories in the same way , and left or remained with equal likelihood when an opening occurred . pair - members moved independently of one another . on only one occasion did we document a pair of birds moving together to a new territory . this move was to an adjacent territory where both male and female owners had disappeared . when their replacements on their former territory were removed they remained on their new territory , suggesting that their move was voluntary .
some individuals lived on the same territory for many years , suggesting they valued these territories highly . did these territories increase longevity ? to examine this question , we looked at the age of the mates of birds that did not emigrate . our expectation was that , if the territory was of high quality ( in terms of survival ) , their mates should also remain on the territory and live longer than average . there is no gender difference in survival so we compared longevity in these mates with longevity in the general population . the mean lifespan of these mates was 5 . 9 years ± 0 . 404 ( se ) ( n = 7 ) whereas the mean lifespan of the general population was 4 . 9 years± 0 . 259 ( n = 49 ) . although in the direction predicted , this difference was not significant ( mann - whitney u test , u = 111 . 5 , p = . 14 ) .
territories that were immigrated to tended to have more foraging substrate volume , but not necessarily more total area , than the territories from which the same birds emigrated ( table 1 ) . no birds voluntarily moved to territories with less area or foraging substrate than their prior territory .
we focused attention on song output at three sites containing favored ( removed birds replaced ) and not favored ( removed birds not replaced ) adjacent territories ( table 2 ) . there was no clear difference in song output on favored and unfavored territories ( wilcoxon , n = 6 , z = 0 . 52 , p = . 60 for males ; n = 6 , z = 0 . 11 , p = . 91 for females ) .
two territories were abandoned by antbirds when they were reduced . on one , ≈ 30 % of the habitat was bulldozed , and on the other after underbrush was cleared . a pair of antbirds resettled in the first territory , which was vacant from january , 1992 , until march , 1993 , after the vegetation recovered ; the second was not reoccupied .
our results describe a mating system in which the individuals are always paired but readily abandon a territory to move to a better one . on some territories , birds left at the rate of one per two years ( figure 3 ) . the territory switching system is characterized by gender equality , with both males and females capable of defending territories alone after mate desertion and attracting mates . males and females were equally likely to leave territories and mates and did so independently , not as pairs . thus mate abandonment is an important aspect of territory switching and , as a consequence , the evolution of cooperation between pair members is unlikely because the benefits of switching must be greater than those attained by maintaining long - term pairbonds . indeed , we found no evidence of pair cooperation in territorial defense ( morton and derrickson , 1996 ; see also freed , 1987 ) .
birds cannot leave their current territories to assess other territories by exploring them ( morton and derrickson , 1996 ) . nonetheless , birds appeared to switch to territories that had more foraging substrate though not always to larger ones ( table 1 ) . we found no support for the idea that song output during the dawn chorus might affect decisions to switch ( table 2 ) .
further work on territory switching should focus on other factors . we do not know if the quality of a mate affects territory switching . some pairs remained together on the same territory for long periods of time , even when experimental removals provided opportunities to switch , whereas other pairs broke up often . reproductive success , however , was so low ( 8 % per year ) that no territory had more than one successful nest and many had no reproductive success during the 8 years of the study ( morton and stutchbury , in press ) . switching territories did not enhance annual reproductive success . territory switching may evolve when successful reproduction occurs rarely in an individual ' s lifetime . under this condition , selection favors a long reproductive lifespan as the primary means to achieve any reproductive success .
we thank ron ydenberg and two anonymous referees for helpful comments on the manuscript and the smithsonian tropical research institute for logistical support in panama . students from the ontario field course program helped gather song data . stan and pat rand graciously made us feel at home and provided transporation over the years in panama . research was conducted under permits issued by the instituto nacional recursos naturales renovables ( now unam ) . research was supported by grants from the smithsonian institution scholarly studies program , friends of the national zoo , and the natural sciences and engineering research council of canada .
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( nohring r , ed . ) . berlin : deutsche ornithologen - gesellschaft ;
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. a comparison of vocal behavior among tropical and temperate zone birds . in :
( kroodsma de , miller eh , eds ) . ithaca : cornell university press ;
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. ornithological monographs 36 ( buckley pa , foster ms , morton es , ridgely rs , buckley fg , eds ) . washington : american ornithologists ' union ;
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. density dependence , evolutionary optimization , and the diversification of avian life histories .
. mixed flocks and polyspecific associations : costs and benefits of mixed groups to birds and monkeys .
. delayed breeding in avian social systems : the role of territory quality and “floater” tactics .
oxford university press is a department of the university of oxford . it furthers the university ' s objective of excellence in research , scholarship , and education by publishing worldwide
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the gopher tortoise ( gopherus polyphemus ) is a species of the gopherus genus native to the southeastern united states .

the gopher tortoise is seen as a keystone species because it digs burrows that provide shelter for at least 360 other animal species .

they are threatened by predation and habitat destruction .

the gopher tortoise is a representative of the genus gopherus , which contains the only tortoises native to north america .

this species of gopher tortoise is the state reptile of georgia and the state tortoise of florida .

gopher tortoise

gopher tortoise council . 2000 . about the gopher tortoise . retrieved august 8 , 2011 , from urltoken
a landowner ' s guide : managing habitat for gopher tortoises contains information and resources for managing gopher tortoise habitat .
. the ecology and management of the gopher tortoise in the southeastern united states .
the gopher tortoise is a keystone species and indicator of longleaf pine ecosystem health .
more than 80 percent of gopher tortoise habitat is in private or corporate ownership .
the gopher tortoise makes its home in the longleaf pine forests of the southeast .
click here to see a closer shot of the mother gopher tortoise covering her eggs and photos of baby gopher tortoises .
gopher tortoise entering its burrow in fort pierce , fl . from : wikimedia commons .
the gopher tortoise is considered a “keystone” species in the areas where it makes its home .
a gopher tortoise makes its way into a burrow . © fwc fish and wildlife research institute
diemer j e . the ecology and management of the gopher tortoise in the united states .
a guide to living with gopher tortoises contains information on the importance of gopher tortoise in florida and what to do if you encounter one .
are you curious about the appearance of this creature ? here are some gopher tortoise photos that you may find useful . check out these gopher tortoise images to know how this particular species look like .
the gopher tortoise has been regulated in florida since 1972 and has been fully protected since 1988 . despite the afforded protection , many gopher tortoise populations in florida continue to decline . the species’ threatened status and the gopher tortoise management plan were approved in november 2007 . the objectives of the management plan are to :
diemer , j . 1986 . the ecology and management of the gopher tortoise in the southeastern united states .
the gopher tortoise : at home in florida ' s forests includes information on how private forest owners can participate in gopher tortoise conservation . florida forests ( spring / summer 2008 ) published by the florida forestry association .
the gopher tortoise , gopherus polphemus . note the large scales on the forefeet that protect the tortoise while burrowing . photo courtesy of k . hill , smithsonian marine station
try doing a search for gopher tortoise on any search engine . you ' ll find lots of interesting sites .
the gopher tortoise is declining throughout its range . some researchers have projected that unless something is done to reverse this decline , this species may soon be found only in protected areas . why is the gopher tortoise in trouble ?
the following coloring sheets were created for the gopher tortoise council and are provided by fwc for download and duplication .
the gopher tortoise , by zander srodes . this children ' s activity book , reprinted by fwc in february 2009 , is an educational activity book that introduces the life history and ecological significance of the gopher tortoise to young audiences .
learn more about gopher tortoises and tortoise habitat so you can teach others . good information sources include the library , zoo , and the gopher tortoise council , and the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission ( website address below ) . .
our overarching goal is to restore robust and viable gopher tortoise populations to suitable habitat at the nonami and avalon plantations .
the gopher tortoise is the only land tortoise native to the southeast , living in longleaf pine savannahs of louisiana , mississippi , alabama , florida , georgia and south carolina . the gopher tortoise dwells in pine forests with deep , well drained soils and an open understory that provides food and nesting sites .
the gopher tortoise is considered a keystone species , and an indicator of longleaf pine ecosystem health . gopher tortoise requires deep , well drained soils and an open understory that provides open sunny sites for nesting . its burrows provide vital habitat and shelter for many endangered species . in addition , gopher tortoise serves as vector for seed dispersal , helping to maintain biological diversity . the effects of habitat destruction , degradation , and human predation have greatly reduced the gopher tortoise population to the point where gopher tortoise is listed as a threatened species under the endangered species act throughout the western part of its range .
the venerable , distinctive gopher tortoise continues to hold on , even as habitat constantly decreases . ( photo by bob kornegay )
adult burrow of the gopher tortoise . gopher tortoises inhabit sandy , dry areas such as occur in this upland sand pine forest . photo courtesy of k . hill , smithsonian marine station .
(
gopher tortoise management plan
, 2012 ; burke , et al . , 1996 ; ernst and lovich , 2009 )
the gopher tortoise is one of the most widely studied tortoises in the world . as such its dietary preferences are well known .
the original gopher tortoise management plan ( 2007 ) was approved in september 2007 . it is provided here for reference purposes only .
this issue will be discussed at the upcoming gopher tortoise council annual meeting oct . 16 - 18 in albany , mcguire said .
hoa rules permitting , you can landscape for gopher tortoises . grow native plants that provide food for gopher tortoises . they like a variety of plants such as prickly pear , gopher apple , wild grape , blackberry , blueberry , and broadleaf grasses . this guide to gopher tortoise - friendly plants has more information .
upper respiratory tract disease ( urtd ) has been observed in a number of tortoise species ( 15 , 16 , 19 ) , including the desert tortoise ( gopherus agassizii ) and the gopher tortoise . clinical signs of urtd have been observed in a number of imported captive tortoise species ( 19 ) and in tortoises submitted to the veterinary medical teaching hospital ( vmth ) , university of florida ( uf ) , including the red - footed tortoise ( geochelone carbonaria ) , leopard tortoise ( geochelone pardalis ) , indian star tortoise ( geochelone elegans ) , and radiated tortoise ( geochelone radiata ) . numerous wild and captive gopher tortoises have been submitted to vmth with clinical signs consistent with urtd .
grant opportunities are posted to the gopher tortoise council ' s website frequently . please check back for future opportunities as they are available .
gopher tortoises are ancient : their ancestors are a species of land tortoise that originated in western north america some 60 million years ago . they are members of the class reptilia , order testudines , and family testudinidae . of five north american tortoise species ( genusgopherus ) , the gopher tortoise is the only one that occurs east of the mississippi river .
, it was determined that the level of gopher tortoise population in a specific area was directly related to the amount of available edge habitat .
if you see a gopher tortoise on the road , pick it up and move it out of the road in the direction the tortoise was moving . do not take it with you or move it somewhere else .
gopher tortoise density and movements are affected by availability of forbs and grasses . home range is inversely related to the amount of herbaceous grass cover . as the principal sandhill grazer , the gopher tortoise feeds primarily on grasses , succulent plants and legumes . legumes appear to be particularly important in the diet of juveniles . the gopher tortoise serves as a seed dispersal agent for native grasses and returns leached nutrients to the surface during burrow construction .
in florida , the gopher tortoise is listed as threatened . both the tortoise and its burrow are protected under state law . 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 . applications for permits are available on the fwc gopher tortoise online permitting site . online applications are preferred to facilitate a faster review process . before applying for a permit , please review the gopher tortoise permitting guidelines or visit the individual permit webpages by following the links on the left side of your computer screen .
for answers to specific gopher tortoise questions , refer to our frequently asked questions . to view relocation permits , find an authorized gopher tortoise agent , or find a recipient site , access our online locator map . if you require additional assistance , please contact the fwc regional conservation biologist nearest you .
few area outdoorsmen do not know the gopher tortoise . for untold decades our paths have intermittently crossed that of this only terrestrial tortoise east of the mississippi river . not many years ago , these chance meetings were not uncommon . today , however , gopher sightings are becoming fewer and farther between .
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this species should never be mixed with any other species of turtle or tortoise .
interested in conserving gopher tortoise habitat ? usda’s natural resource conservation service ( nrcs ) offers technical and financial assistance . for more information , check out the nrcs gopher tortoise webpage or contact your local usda service center or county extension office . fwc’s landowner assistance program may also provide cost - share opportunities .
the pine ecosystem conservation handbook for the gopher tortoise in florida is part of an initiative of the american forest foundation ' s center for conservation solutions that brings together conservation partners and family forest owners to conserve and create forest habitat for the gopher tortoise and other declining wildlife of the southern pine forest .
gopher tortoises help maintain diverse natural communities . most people enjoy seeing tortoises , and they may be considered a tourist attraction . they were sometimes collected for the pet trade , though in florida it is now illegal to possess or sell a gopher tortoise without a proper license . in the past , in northern florida , rural communities captured gopher tortoises and used them as a source of food ( gopher tortoise management plan 2012 ; innes 2009 ) .
nrcs offers technical and financial assistance to help agricultural producers voluntarily conserve gopher tortoise habitat on private lands . this assistance helps producers plan and implement a variety of conservation activities , or practices , that benefit the tortoise and support forestry operations .
habitat destruction is a significant threat to gopher tortoises . threats to the gopher tortoise also include habitat fragmentation and degradation , predation , inadequacy of regulatory mechanisms , and incompatible use of herbicides in forest management and some silvicultural activities .
gopher tortoises lay eggs usually only once a year and have five to eight eggs in a nest . gopher tortoise eggs hatch between 60 to 90 days at 88 degrees fahrenheit . young gopher tortoises grow fast when fed a good diet . gopher tortoises become sub - adult in about six years and adult at 8 years for males and 17 to 20 years for females .
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1987 . final rule : threatened status for the gopher tortoise . 50 cfr , 52 ( 129 ) .
an amazing trait of the gopher tortoise is that it shares its burrow with more than 350 other species , including burrowing owls , florida mice , indigo snakes , opossums , rabbits , gopher frog , eastern diamondback rattlesnakes and gopher crickets . for this reason it is called a keystone species , so named because the upper stone in an arch , the keystone , supports the other stones to hold them in place . animals which utilize the gopher tortoise burrows are known as commensal species . since many commensal species depend on the burrows for survival , decreases in gopher tortoise populations result in a decline of other species .
is credited with naming this tortoise after the cave - dwelling cyclops of homer’s odyssey .
2013 .
gopher tortoise : gopherus polyphemus
( on - line ) . florida fish and wildlife conservation commission . accessed november 29 , 2013 at urltoken .
it is unlawful to touch , harm , harass or collect a wild gopher tortoise . if you come upon one in the wild do not pick it up .
conserving the gopher tortoise also benefits eglin afb operations : increasing population numbers decreases the species’ need for federal regulations that could ultimately restrict base activities and land use .
diemer , j . 1986 . the ecology and management of the gopher tortoise in the southeastern united states . herpetologica 42 ( 1 ) : 125 - 133 .
the gopher tortoise is protected as a state - designated threatened species by florida’s endangered and threatened species rule . gopher tortoises must be relocated before any land clearing or development takes place , and property owners must obtain permits from fwc before they can move them . the u . s . fish & wildlife service lists the gopher tortoise as a candidate species for protection under the federal endangered species act .
the gopher tortoise is classified as vulnerable ( vu ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ) , and is listed on appendix ii of cites ( 3 ) .
you may qualify to serve as a gopher tortoise recipient site for tortoises that have to be relocated . there is financial incentive for receiving tortoises . more information here .
working lands for wildlife will assist landowners voluntarily create , restore or enhance gopher tortoise habitat , increasing habitat connectivity , and support potential down - listing of the species .
ecology and habitat protection needs of gopher tortoise ( gopherus polyphemus ) populations found on lands slated for large - scale development in florida . technical report no . 4 .
if you find a dead tortoise , report it here . do not take any remains .
the gopher tortoise ( gopherus polyphemus ) , unlike many other varieties of tortoises , is an avid digger . these sizable reptiles are known as
gopher
tortoises thanks to their burrowing habits . gopher tortoises are found in the united states ' southeastern region , including mississippi , florida , alabama , south carolina , louisiana and georgia .
gopher tortoises are cold sensitive ( auffenberg and franz 1982 ; diemer 1986 ) .
outcome of transmission study to determine pathogenicity of m . agassizii in gopher tortoises a
diemer , j . e . 1986 . the ecology and management of the gopher tortoise in the southeastern united states . herpetologica . 42 ( 1 ) : 125 - 133 .
the gopher tortoise prefers dry landscapes such as sandy ridges and sand dunes , as well as the forests of longleaf pine ( pinus palustris ) ( 2 ) ( 4 ) .
gopher tortoise eggs are fertilized internally and a single clutch is laid by a female each season . on average , a clutch has six eggs , though clutch size ranges from five to nine eggs . incubation period ranges from 80 to 100 days , and depends on the latitude ( and temperature trends ) at which a nest is located . nests located further south tend to have shorter incubation periods ( gopher tortoise management plan , 2012 ) . gopher tortoises exhibit temperature dependent sex determination and have an unusually low pivotal temperature of about 29 degrees c ( burke et al . 1996 ) . nest and hatchling predation is very high . those juvenile gopher tortoises that survive reach sexual maturity slowly , with female gopher tortoises reaching sexual maturity between 9 and 21 years . male gopher tortoises may reach sexual maturity slightly earlier than females ( gopher tortoise management plan , 2012 ) .
has been working closely with usfws and nrcs on this new cost - share opportunity for private landowners to receive funds specifically for managing gopher tortoise habitat . of the $ 33 million from whip , to share the cost of conservation practices with landowners , approximately $ 6 million is reserved for improving gopher tortoise habitat throughout its range . the goal of this new funding initiative is to help reverse the decline of seven critical species including the gopher tortoise . this is an amazing opportunity for private landowners in florida to help conserve this threatened reptile .
habitat restored for the gopher tortoise benefits many other species , including red cockaded woodpecker , black pine snake , bobwhite quail , white - tailed deer , turkey and dusky gopher frog . in total , 28 threatened and endangered species are dependent on longleaf pine forests .
if the tortoise population was at the point of needing to be listed under the endangered species act , significant regulatory requirements could drain energy , resources and enthusiasm from efforts to facilitate the species’ recovery . the gopher tortoise initiative unites landowners , timber growers and businesses across the state to proactively enhance gopher tortoise populations and habitats . the result is a powerful convergence : everyone’s working together to prevent the listing . what’s good for the gopher tortoise is good for landowners , businesses , and an entire ecosystem . if successful , they will also be conserving iconic habitats on a historic scale , demonstrating how tortoises , landowners , and industry can coexist .
practice good habitat management for gopher tortoises . regular prescribed burning and tree thinning can help provide the open habitat that gopher tortoises need . check out fwc’s landowners guide here .
t , favored by gopher tortoises , helped identify counties the program will benefit most .
salmonella from gopher tortoises ( gopherus polyphemus ) in south georgia . - pubmed - ncbi
pathology of upper respiratory tract disease of gopher tortoises in florida . - pubmed - ncbi
florida fish and wildlife conservation commission . gopher tortoise management plan . 2 . tallahassee , fl : florida fish and wildlife conservation commission . 2012 . accessed december 01 , 2013 at urltoken .
the gopher tortoise is protected throughout its range either by state or federal law . in alabama , mississippi , and louisiana ; it is a federally threatened species . getting a permit to keep a gopher tortoise as a pet is very difficult . however , in the state of florida , one can get a permit to keep individuals through the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission .
buhlmann , k . a . , b . m . moule , a . grosse * * , t . d . tuberville , and s . h . bennett . 2009 . summary report for the gopher tortoise reintroduction project at the aiken gopher tortoise heritage preserve 2009 . report submitted to sc department of natural resources , 9 december 2009 . 7pp . ( technical report )
gopher tortoises , for the most part , are herbivorous animals . some typical elements of the gopher tortoise diet are berries , fruit , spurge , pines , herbs , beech , peas , daisies , asters and grass . low plants are a particular favorite for gopher tortoises , especially those that appear under strong sun . one of their preferred grasses is wire grass .
“the gopher tortoise habitat won’t recreate itself , ” said lee . “management efforts will be necessary , such as prescribed burning , removal of woody undergrowth , longleaf pine tree planting , and restoration of native grasses , and there are costs involved with that . ” the gopher tortoise initiative includes the establishment of a fund that will be used to help cover the costs of habitat restoration .
gopher tortoises live in well - drained sandy areas with a sparse tree canopy and abundant low growing vegetation . they are commonly found in habitats such as sandhill , pine flatwoods , scrub , scrubby flatwoods , dry prairies , xeric hammock , pine - mixed hardwoods , and coastal dunes which have historically been maintained by periodic wild fires . when fire is suppressed in gopher tortoise habitat , small trees , shrubs , and brambles begin to grow making it difficult for the gopher tortoise to move around and eventually shade out the low growing plants that gopher tortoises eat .
gopher tortoises are found in habitats often desired for development . due to their protected status , land developers are required to obtain permits before developing land where gopher tortoises are present . sometimes , gopher tortoises may be relocated . at other times , however , the land is protected from development . a delay in development , or lack of development in protected habitats , may thus have a small negative economic impact on humans ( gopher tortoise management plan 2012 ) .
burke , r . , m . ewert , j . mclemore , d . jackson . 1996 . temperature - dependent sex determination and hatching success in the gopher tortoise ( gopherus polyphemus ) .
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1990 . agency draft : gopher tortoise recovery plan . 37 pages . usfws , endangered species program , southeastern regional office , atlanta , georgia .
reports that gopher tortoises eat a mixed diet of grasses , leaves , and wild fruits .
diemer , j . 1989 . gopherus polyphemus , gopher tortoise . pp . 14 - 16 . in : the conservation biology of tortoises . iucn species survival commission . occasional paper no . 5 .
scientists from the nature conservancy , dnr and other partners have concluded that if we can protect 100 , 000 acres or more of critical gopher tortoise habitat , the species will not need regulatory protection .
the collaborative initiative is off to a strong start , with 47 viable gopher tortoise populations now permanently protected - up from 36 when gtci launched . as of march 2018 , private sources have pledged more than $ 15 million which has allowed gtci to leverage more than $ 65 million in federal and state funding . a private foundation has also launched a donation match program to support the gopher tortoise .
if you have a funding opportunity available for gopher tortoise education or research and would like for us to include the information on our website , please send the announcement to deborah . burr @ urltoken .
the gopher tortoise is listed in florida as a species of special concern ( ssc ) . auffenberg and franz ( 1982 ) have estimated that historical population densities of this species had been reduced 70 % by the year 2000 , and could be extirpated from all but protected land areas by 2025 . merritt island wildlife refuge at kennedy space center ( ksc ) in florida is the largest protected area of gopher tortoise habitat along the atlantic coast . overall tortoise density at ksc is estimated at approximately 18 , 000 animals , with tortoise density highest in areas where herbaceous cover dominates . tortoise density decreases in areas where cover of shrubs , oak trees and pines dominates ( breininger et al . 1988 , 1991 , 1994 ) .
an average tortoise of this type is approximately 10 inch ( 25 cm ) in length . a male tortoise usually grows about 12 inches in length . it can grow to a maximum of 16 inches in length .
the gopher tortoise is found in the southeastern part of the united states . its range includes southwestern south carolina , south almost to the tip of the florida peninsula ; west through southern georgia , alabama , and mississippi , to louisiana and the edge of southeastern texas and arkansas . 3 overall gopher tortoise populations have diminished severely but they still can be locally quite common , especially on certain florida islands .
gopher tracks , by susan jane ryan . this 62 - page book is most appropriate for fourth - graders and up . the book introduces gopher tortoise ecology , the role of fire in upland habitats , and the importance of environmental stewardship through the adventures of two girls , tamika and diana .
welcome teachers , students , and parents ! here you will find gopher tortoise related information and activities for all ages . this page lists all of the brochures and other forms that are available for download .
tortoises were a reliable source of food during the depression , when there was little else to eat . of course , these so called “hoover chickens” were much more plentiful 70 years ago . currently , tortoise harvesting is illegal in every state where tortoises are found . unfortunately not all states enforce tortoise protection laws . even after the harvest of tortoises was prohibited in florida , illegal hunting depleted or destroyed tortoise colonies to supply the demand for gopher meat . gopher tortoises do not reproduce at a rate that can withstand harvest .
to your smartphone and become a citizen scientist ! this app allows anyone in gopher tortoise range to record the location where they spot gopher tortoises and report that information back to the state wildlife agency . this is important data that can help experts better understand where tortoises roam and where protection is needed .
this creature looks like any other tortoise . but it has stronger and stouter limbs with fat , wide claws that aid it in digging . it has small scales that protect its forelimbs . the protective shell that is found on all turtles and tortoises is also present in gopher tortoise . the shell is an extension of its skeleton and gives it complete protection . when the tortoise senses a threat , it can pull its head and limbs into the shell . very few creatures other than human beings can hurt the tortoise at this time .
for gopher tortoise endangered species is the most appropriate term . the existence of this creature is threatened . the fish and wildlife conservation commission of florida has included this tortoise in the list of species of special concern . it is protected federally as an endangered species in all regions where it is found , except florida .
when stressed , gopher tortoises expel the contents of their bladders as a last ditch defense measure .
encounters with gopher tortoises : protection and natural history provides curriculum and activities to educators in florida .
jackson d r , milstrey e g . the fauna of gopher tortoise burrows . in : diemer j e , jackson d r , landers j l , layne j n , wood d a , editors .
gopher tortoises are found in all counties in florida and utilize many habitat types , from beach dunes to scrub and pine flatwoods . though it is generally agreed that typical gopher tortoise habitats are sandy and well - drained , breininger et al . ( 1991 ) observed that in brevard county , florida , gopher tortoises often inhabit poorly - drained scrub and slash pine areas . the breininger et al . ( 1991 ) study reported higher overall tortoise densities in poorly - drained areas than in well - drained , sandy areas .
the nature conservancy is working with the georgia department of natural resources ( dnr ) and other vital conservation partners to protect a minimum of 65 viable gopher tortoise populations by 2020 . to meet this goal , the gopher tortoise conservation initiative ( gtci ) aims to raise $ 150 million from state , federal and private sources to protect 100 , 000 + acres of key habitat , and raise additional funds to manage those lands .
as its name implies , the gopher tortoise digs burrows of up to 40 feet in length that allow escape from heat and danger . these burrows are a unique climate resiliency feature of southeastern landscapes , harboring many other wildlife species . the gopher tortoise is considered a keystone species of longleaf pine forests , one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world , because its presence supports the stability of many other wildlife populations .
gopher tortoises are terrestrial tortoises and can be found in habitats with dry , sandy soils , a thin tree canopy , and plenty of low growing vegetation . some common gopher tortoise habitats include scrub , coastal dunes , sandhill , pine and scrubby flatwoods , prairie , pine - mixed hardwoods , and xeric hammock . periodic burning is an essential component of gopher tortoise habitat , as it inhibits the growth of tall , dense vegetation that prevents the growth of low growing plants that make up the tortoises’ diet . within these habitats ,
gopher tortoise lives in places like florida , alabama , south carolina , east louisiana , mississippi and south georgia . however , it is most commonly found in all the 67 counties of the us state of florida .
(
anage entry for gopherus polyphemus
, 2012 ;
gopher tortoise management plan
, 2012 ; conant and collins , 1998 ; ernst and lovich , 2009 ; mushinsky , et al . , 1994 )
leave burrows alone ! if you have any proposed development activities within 25 feet of a burrow , contact your local extension office or the fwc gopher tortoise conservation biologist in your area for guidance on what to do .
diemer , j . 1987 . the status of the gopher tortoise in florida . pp . 72 - 83 . in : proceedings of the third southeastern nongame and endangered wildlife symposium . georgia department of natural resources .
i found this gopher tortoise 3 years ago during a trip to the everglades ! it remains one of my favorite reptile finds ! ( not my arms pictured ; my professor was holding it while i photographed ) .
the longleaf alliance also offers an educational poster that depicts many of the plants and animals that could be encountered on a stroll through the longleaf pine forest , one habitat in which the gopher tortoise can be found .
gopher tortoises play an important role in ecosystem ecology for two reasons . first , by consuming grasses , herbs , and the fruits of trees , the gopher tortoise aids in seed dispersal . second , its burrows provide important habitat for more than 80 different species of invertebrates and vertebrates , some of which are rare .
millburn , naomi .
the foods that gopher tortoises eat
accessed july 09 , 2018 . urltoken
gopher tortoises depend on deep , well - drained soils and an open understory . in turn , their burrows provide vital shelter for many at - risk species . gopher tortoises also help disperse plant seeds .
first year post - release movement and survivorship of head - started gopher tortoises . to appear in :
teaching about gopher tortoises : protection and natural history provides facilitator ' s curriculum for training environmental educators .
more than 80 percent of gopher tortoise habitat is in private or corporate hands , and we really need your help identifying the status of gopher tortoises on your land to better assess populations and trends . fire helps maintain good habitat conditions for tortoises . if your land is primarily in silviculture ( pine tree farming ) , you can help gopher tortoises by prescribed burning and tree thinning to achieve the open habitat that tortoises need .
the gopher tortoise lives in dry , sandy uplands , such as oak - sandhills , scrub , pine flatwoods and coastal dunes of the southeastern united states . it is the only tortoise in the eastern part of the country . human activities eliminated gopher tortoises from a significant portion of their historic range , but they still occur in alabama , south carolina , louisiana , mississippi and georgia , with the majority of the remaining population in florida .
the gopher tortoise is a fairly large tortoise , which reaches 24 cm ( 9 . 4 inches ) in size . there are occasional specimens of greater than 30 cm ( 12 inches ) and the record is 38 cm ( 15 inches ) . this tortoise has a low oval carapace with a flat top . this appearance occasionally results in amateurs thinking it to be an aquatic turtle and returning it to the nearest body of water , often resulting in drowning .
“this is a lot bigger than eglin air force base , ” he said in an e & e article . “the work we are doing here will impact other department of defense installations and other gopher tortoise conservation areas . ”
the u . s . fish and wildlife service listed the gopher tortoise as a threatened species in louisiana , mississippi and western alabama during 1987 . in 1990 the service has distributed a draft recovery plan for the western population for public comment . the gopher tortoise is protected on all federal wildlife refuges , national parks and seashores , national forests and military reservations . the gopher tortoise is listed on appendix ii of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora ( cites ) . appendix ii listing implies that commercial trade is allowed providing a permit from the country of export is obtained . this method provides for monitoring of international trade of all designated species .
gopher tortoises can sometimes be killed by natural predators without major impact on the colony as a whole . however , these predators and domestic pets can kill an inordinate number of gopher tortoises when homeowners bring unrestrained dogs and cats into an area , or feed raccoons to the point at which ground nesters like gopher tortoises and bob white quail have their egg clutches eliminated . illegal take of gopher tortoises by poachers can also devastate a colony , as the gopher tortoise has a low rate of reproduction . small clutch size , low egg and hatchling survival , and late reproductive maturity mean it can take many years for a colony to replace those individuals lost .
floridians can obtain “burrow or structure protection” permits that allow for the “on - site relocation of tortoises” for residents who can prove that burrows “compromise existing structures” ( such as one underneath a propane tank ) or put the tortoise in danger ( such as one in a driveway or parking lot ) , according to the official gopher - tortoise - permit guidelines .
u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1990 . gopher tortoise ( gopherus polyphemus ) recovery plan . prepared by wendell a . neal , u . s . fish and wildlife service , jackson , mi . 28 pp .
if you suspect that someone has unlawfully destroyed or harmed a gopher tortoise or its burrow , report it to fwc’s toll - free wildlife alert hotline at 1 - 888 - 404 - 3922 or text tip @ myfwc . com .
habitat destruction , degradation and human predation have greatly reduced gopher tortoise populations . more than 90 million acres of the u . s . southeast was once covered by longleaf pine savanna . about 3 . 4 million acres remain today .
more than 80 percent of gopher tortoise habitat is privately owned . landowners are helping the gopher tortoise by enhancing and restoring longleaf pine forests . with the help of nrcs , landowners are improving forest stands through prescribed burning and other sustainable forestry practices as well as planting new longleaf pine trees . fires historically burned through the pine savannahs of the south , which suppressed woody species and enabled longleaf pine forests to have an open understory . prescribed burning mimics that process .
white , k . n . 2017 . patterns in siring success and multiple paternity in the gopher tortoise ( gopherus polyphemus ) . m . s . thesis , university of georgia , athens , ga . 59 pp . researchgate profile
eglin’s wildlife chief justin johnson considers this an opportunity to encourage other southeastern military installations to conserve gopher tortoises .
before you build contains information about what landowners should know about gopher tortoises before breaking ground on construction activities .
gopher tortoises are primarily herbivorous , although they will eat bones from dead animals , presumably to get calcium . their primary food sources are low - growing grasses and herbs . examples of their favorite foods are gopher apple and saw palmetto berries . they will eat the pads , fruits , and flowers of prickly pear cactus . one of the gopher tortoise ' s important roles in the ecosystem is to spread the seeds of many plants in its droppings .
the primary threat to the gopher tortoise is habitat loss . habitat alteration , such as urbanization , generally occurs in the same high , dry habitats that the tortoise prefers . lack of appropriate land management ( especially controlled burning ) has also contributed to population declines in areas where natural habitat remains . other threats include road mortality from vehicles and illegal human predation .
disruption of the natural fire regime due to development in much of the gopher tortoise’s habitat is also problematic . fire is important because it thins out the canopy and dense woody brush and allows for herbaceous vegetation that provides food for the gopher tortoise . prescribed burning ( or mowing and thinning in areas where burning is too risky ) can substitute for the natural fire regime , but many natural areas around development are left untouched and the vegetation gets too dense . on top of reducing habitat for gopher tortoises , this build up of dense vegetation also increases risk of dangerous crown fires .
gopher tortoises are often called wildlife landlords because their burrows are essential to the lives and well - being of many other wildlife species . these animals that take advantage of the tortoise ' s burrow , but neither help nor harm the tortoise , are called commensals . commensals benefit from the protection of the burrow , but the burrow may also provide a smorgasbord for any predator that ventures into it . over 300 species of invertebrates and 60 species of vertebrates have been documented using tortoise burrows .
the revised gopher tortoise management plan was approved on september 5 , 2012 . the revised plan takes the place of the original plan approved in 2007 ( see below ) . thank you to all stakeholders and members of the public for input and participation throughout this process . the gopher tortoise ( gopherus polyphemus ) has been regulated in florida since 1972 and has been fully protected since 1988 . despite the afforded protection , gopher tortoise populations throughout the state have declined . as a response to the continuing decline of the species , a new management plan was drafted and approved in september 2007 as a precursor to reclassifying the gopher tortoise from a
species of special concern
to a
threatened species .
the threatened status was approved and went into effect on november 8 , 2007 . following the first 5 years of implementation , fwc worked with stakeholders to revise and improve the original management plan . the revised plan was approved in september 2012 .
the gopher tortoise , currently endangered because of habitat loss , digs burrows that provide homes to more than 300 other types of animals . a new study examines the ease with which wildlife can move from one habitat to another . credit :
there are multiple benefits to protecting these tortoises in georgia ,
says deron davis , executive director of the nature conservancy in georgia .
from a conservation perspective , protecting the gopher tortoise ' s habitat will have wide ranging benefits to animals within its ecosystem that depend on it , including indigo snakes , striped newts , eastern diamond - backed rattlesnakes , florida pine snakes and gopher frogs . the people of georgia will benefit from a quality of life perspective because some of the protected gopher tortoise habitats will be open to the public for recreation . from an economic perspective , landowners with gopher tortoises on their property will avoid the costly regulations and policies of the endangered species list .
primarily herbivorous creatures , gopher tortoises eat grasses , mushrooms , saw palmetto berries , and prickly pear cactus pads , fruits and flowers , as well as blackberries , blueberries , gopher apples and other low - growing fruits .
specific antibody to m . agassizii in gopher tortoises experimentally infected with different doses of m . agassizii ( , low dose ; ▨ , medium dose ; ■ , high dose ) and control gopher tortoises ( □ ) .
the gopher tortoise is an obligate burrower with many adaptations for digging . the limbs are very stout and strong , with wide flat claws . the front legs are protected with small scales . the shell of the tortoise ( and all turtles ) is an outgrowth of the skeleton and is their major means of protection . when the tortoise pulls his head completely into the shell and covers the openings with his limbs , there are very few predators , other than humans , that can harm him .
the gopher tortoise is a moderate - sized , terrestrial turtle that averages 9 - 11 inches ( 23 - 28 centimeters ) long . this species of tortoise has a brown , gray , or tan upper shell ( carapace ) , a yellow lower shell ( plastron ) , and brown to dark gray skin ( florida natural areas inventory 2001 ) . gopher tortoises have stumpy , elephant - like hind feet and flattened , shovel - like forelimbs that are used for digging burrows .
this species hibernates in nature , after careful research and provision of a cool dry location this can be reproduced for your tortoise .
invertebrates are also commonly found in the burrows , including some 32 species of spiders , ticks , and insects . it is this creation of the burrow refuge that has acknowledged the gopher tortoise by ecologists as the keystone species for its habitat .
as you can see , there are plenty of ways you can get involved to help save gopher tortoises . if you have any questions or want to talk tortoise , feel free to shoot me an email at lkolluri @ ufl . edu .
working lands for wildlife will complement the existing longleaf pine initiative by providing targeted funding to help enhance , restore and protect gopher tortoise habitat , and increase landowner confidence that the conservation practices they implement will not harm the species or its habitat .
click here for resources regarding voluntary best management practices for the solar industry to minimize and possibly avoid impacts to at - risk species and habitats , like the gopher tortoise and sandhills . it is important to note that some states , such as florida , have regulatory requirements for impacts to gopher tortoises and other wildlife on sites proposed for solar farm development .
with those criteria in mind , and as good environmental stewards , we can all help wild gopher tortoises by preserving their upland habitat and , in general , by simply leaving them alone . it is unlawful to possess a gopher tortoise or any other native georgia wildlife species without a special permit . like all wild animals , they are not “pets . ”
millburn , naomi .
the foods that gopher tortoises eat .
animals - urltoken , http : / / animals . urltoken / foods - gopher - tortoises - eat - 4122 . html . accessed 09 july 2018 .
restock gopher tortoises to protected , managed , suitable habitats where they no longer occur or where densities are low .
the gopher tortoise is listed internationally as a cites ii species and is federally listed in the united states under the endangered species act . because of this protected status , it is illegal to collect a gopher tortoise from the wild . contact your state’s wildlife agency for information on the permitting procedure as it varies state to state . such wild collection permits are very rarely granted . check with your state wildlife agency before you consider adopting an animal of this species as federal law protects it .
“our goal is to protect gopher tortoise habitat now , while lands are still available that can be managed to sustain healthy populations , ” said lee . he explained that the investment we make today in protecting their habitat will eliminate the need for costly impact studies and mitigation that could be required in the future if the gopher tortoise is listed as an endangered species . “we have a rare opportunity in that we have time to fix this , ” he said . “it’s good conservation . ”
gopher tortoises are currently protected by federal law under the endangered species act ( esa ) in the alabama counties west of the mobile and tombigbee rivers and in mississippi and louisiana . the eastern portion of the gopher tortoise’s range includes alabama ( east of the tombigbee and mobile rivers ) , florida , georgia , and southern south carolina . in these areas , the gopher tortoise is now a candidate species for possible listing later under the esa . in the western range states , west of the tombigbee river in alabama , mississippi , and louisiana , it will continue to be listed as threatened under the esa .
breininger , d . r . , p . a . schmalzer , and c . r . hinkle . 1994 . gopher tortoise ( gopherus polyphemus ) densities in coastal scrub and slash pine flatwoods . journal of herpetology 28 : 60 - 65 .
quinn * , d . , t . d . tuberville , and k . a . buhlmann . 2016 . gopher tortoise egg and hatching data from predator - excluded nests at three sites in georgia . herpetological review 47 : 13 - 16 .
the gopher tortoise is one of fwc ' s featured critters and was developed with the idea of increasing awareness among floridians . the featured creature includes a collection of information and photos on that particular species in a format designed as a newspaper page .
millburn , naomi . ( n . d . ) . the foods that gopher tortoises eat . animals - urltoken . retrieved from http : / / animals . urltoken / foods - gopher - tortoises - eat - 4122 . html
the jones ecological research center has the state’s largest gopher tortoise population and has been the site of several previous studies , according to smith , and the property is managed with frequent prescribed fire to maintain high - quality habitat for tortoises and other wildlife .
tortoise densities tend to be higher in fire - adapted communities ( auffenberg and franz 1982 ; diemer 1986 ) . in the absence of fire , canopy trees grow large and shade out the herbaceous vegetation that gopher tortoises rely on as their primary food source .
description : the gopher tortoise is the only tortoise in the southeast and can easily be distinguished from the box turtle ( our only other fully terrestrial turtle ) by its large size , rigid , unhinged plastron ( bottom of shell ) and its stumpy , unwebbed feet . adult gopher tortoises are large 9 - 15 in ( 24 - 38 cm ) and are tan or brown above with a yellowish plastron . the juveniles can be yellowish and brightly patterned . males have a concave plastron and longer tail than females .
builds underground burrows . these burrows average 4 . 5 meters in length and 2 meters deep . these burrows , which maintain a steady temperature and humidity throughout the year , provide gopher tortoise with protection from fires , extreme temperatures , drought , and predators .
and the guidelines for development in tortoise habitat . we also worked with agencies and private land managers like foresters and farmers , on wildlife best management practices manuals that describe how operations on forests and agricultural lands can protect gopher tortoises , their nests and burrows .
tuberville , t . d . , and m . e . dorcas . 2001 . winter survey of a gopher tortoise population in south carolina . chelonian conservation and biology 4 : 182 - 186 . ( impact factor : 0 . 808 ) ( pdf )
the first and most important component of gopher tortoise conservation is to conserve and manage remaining upland habitat , including the wetlands that are a part of the complete ecosystem . we also advocate restoration of upland habitat that has been degraded by intensive silviculture , mining , destruction of native ground cover , and fire exclusion . much research has been conducted with the goal of evaluating the proper management guidelines for upland ecosystems , particularly longleaf pine habitats , including gopher tortoises and other upland species . thinning of pines , prescribed burning , removal of exotic plants and animals , and replanting of native groundcover are all components of appropriate management of gopher tortoise habitat .
gopher tortoises are so named because of their ability to dig large , deep burrows . these burrows are widely used by other species throughout the ecosystem , making gopher tortoises a keystone species with a pivotal role to play in their native community .
the gopher tortoise is a moderate - sized , terrestrial turtle , averaging 23–28 cm ( 9–11 in ) in length . the species is identified by its stumpy , elephantine hind feet and flattened , shovel - like forelimbs adapted for digging . the shell is oblong and generally tan , brown , or gray in coloration . gopher tortoises can live 40 to 60 years in the wild .
gopher tortoises that live in captive settings - - think zoos - - eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables . some examples of produce items that captive gopher tortoises consume are bananas , watermelon , apples , alfalfa , cantaloupe , sliced up carrots , broccoli , zucchini , green beans , endives , sweet potatoes , white potatoes and escarole . they also regularly eat tortoise chow .


glaphyria glaphyralis , the common glaphyria moth , is a moth in the crambidae family .

it was described by guenée in 1854 .

it is found in north america , where it has been recorded from alabama , arkansas , florida , georgia , illinois , indiana , kentucky , maryland , massachusetts , mississippi , missouri , new jersey , north carolina , ohio , oklahoma , ontario , pennsylvania , south carolina , tennessee and west virginia .

glaphyria glaphyralis

species glaphyria glaphyralis - common glaphyria moth - hodges # 4869 - bugguide . net
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upcoming events 2018 bugguide gathering in virginia july 27 - 29 : registration and discussion photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in wisconsin , july 10 - 12 photos of insects and people from the 2014 gathering in virginia , june 4 - 7 . photos of insects and people from the 2013 gathering in arizona , july 25 - 28 photos of insects and people from the 2012 gathering in alabama photos of insects and people from the 2011 gathering in iowa photos from the 2010 workshop in grinnell , iowa photos from the 2009 gathering in washington
forbes , w . t . m . 1923 . the lepidoptera of new york and neighboring states . memoir 68 .
the lepidoptera of new york and neighboring states william t . m . forbes . 1923 . cornell university , ithaca , new york ; memoir 68 .
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came to lights at night . seems not to be found often in texas thus far .
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tallahassee , leon county , florida , usa august 14 , 2014 size : approx . 7 mm
i am moving this to moths today to free up the id request , but will get back to study it . marcia is probably right . 9 2 14 - i agree with marcia ' s suggestion .
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