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 .


the brazilian merganser ( mergus octosetaceus ) is a duck in the typical merganser genus .

it is one of the six most threatened waterfowl in the world with possibly fewer than 250 birds in the wild and currently 4 kept in captivity at 2 different brazilian locations .

the origin of its name is from its long , sharp-edged beak that has a great number of teeth-looking edges .

brazilian merganser

a female brazilian merganser shelters her ducklings in the são francisco river , brazil .
hughes , b . ( 2003 ) brazilian merganser workshop . twsg news , 14 : 10 - .
this entry was posted in americas , archive , south america , waterbirds and tagged brazilian merganser . bookmark the permalink .
lins , l . ( 2003 ) brazilian merganser study at serra da canastra . twsg news , 14 : 11 - .
sleek ducks with long thin serrated bills designed to catch fish , the brazilian merganser is one of the most threatened wildfowl species in the world .
in addition to the auckland island merganser , there was a separate merganser species on the chatham islands ( mergus milleneri ) . merganser fossils from mainland new zealand cannot yet be assigned to either of the named species .
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sylvan heights bird park and the international wild waterfowl association have been involved in efforts to prevent the extinction of the critically endangered brazilian merganser by providing funding , training , and advising to the brazilian organizations working with this species .
all anthropogenic activities that influence the quality and integrity of the rivers and their banks are a potential threat to the brazilian merganser . here we highlight these factors based on lamas ( 2006 ) .
the projects on marking - monitoring using radio - transmitters recently started by instituto terra brasilis in serra da canastra , and by funatura in chapada dos veadeiros , will bring important data for the brazilian merganser conservation .
brazilian merganser occurs mainly in watercourses with riffles , pools and waterfalls . changes in the hydrological regime , mainly due to the development of hydroelectric power plants , turn former long stretches of rivers into reservoirs , which has an extreme effect on some merganser populations . in the serra da canastra region , for example , the furnas and mascarenhas de moraes dams flooded several kilometres of flowing water , wiping out habitats that certainly held several territories . there are several new such infrastructure projects under way in different areas of the distribution of the brazilian merganser . to date , the only record of a brazilian merganser in standing waters ( de paula et al . 2008 ) seems to represent no more than an occasional occurrence . the operations of mining companies also interfere in with water including at springs and headwaters , potentially bringing negative impacts to brazilian mergansers habitats .
mike lubbock was invited to a workshop in belahorizonte , brazil , in 2000 to help address the dire situation of the brazilian merganser . the workshop was organized by wolf bartman , of the dortmund zoo in germany . a recovery plan was produced by experts from all three brazilian merganser range nations ( argentina , brazil , and paraguay ) , plus europe and the united states . they collated background information on the status and distribution , life history , and threats faced by the brazilian merganser and drew up a basic proposal for conservation action . mike has returned to brazil several times since 2000 as an adviser to conservationists and aviculture facilities working to save this species .
voice : “quacking like a duck” is the only recorded description of the call of the auckland island merganser .
the elusive brazilian merganser not only ranks among the most endangered of all waterfowl , but rarest of all birds as well . possibly fewer than 250 birds remain , and some conservationists fear that even this estimate may be optimistic .
( fabaceae : caesalpinioideae ) and the influence of quaternary climate changes in the brazilian cerrado . ann bot 100 : 1219–1228
some of these recommendation have undoubted and immeasurable importance and urgency . their application must be evaluated in each of the brazilian merganser´s areas of occurrence , considering the specific aspects of threat , politics , strategies , opportunities , and so on .
all the important actions for conservation of the brazilian merganser , based on our current knowledge , are described in the action plan for the conservation of the brazilian merganser . this publication must be consulted by anyone who intends to work with this species ( there are versions in portuguese and english – hughes et al . 2006a ; hughes et al . 2006b ) . this action plan is the third number of the threatened species series created by the brazilian environmental agency ( ibama ) for contributing to the protection and conservation of the brazilian threatened fauna . series of priority recommendations are listed under five themes : fiscalization and legislation ; species and habitat protection ; monitoring and research ; public awareness and capacity building ; and international collaboration and communication .
williams , m . 2012 . a merganser at auckland islands , new zealand . wildfowl 62 : 3 - 36 .
the brazilian merganser feeds mainly on fish , which it captures by diving in river rapids and backwater , but supplements this diet with molluscs and insects and their larvae ( 2 ) ( 3 ) . these birds usually feed in pairs ( 2 ) .
silveira , l . f . and bartmann , w . d . ( 2001 ) natural history and conservation of brazilian merganser mergus octosetaceus at serra da canastra national park , minas gerais , brazil . bird conservation international , 11 : 287 - 300 .
kear , j . & scarlett , r . 1970 . the auckland island merganser . wildfowl 21 : 78 - 86 .
de paula , gabriel arvelino cerqueira , marconi campos and ribon , rômulo 2008 . occurrence of the brazilian merganser ( mergus octosetaceus ) in the southern border of the espinhaço range , minas gerais , brazil . waterbirds , vol . 31 , issue . 2 , p . 289 .
the river habitat required by the brazilian merganser has suffered from staggering deforestation and permanent flooding from dams . the dwindling population of these fish - eating ducks is perhaps most numerous in brazil ' s serra de canastra national park , 500 miles northwest of san paulo . adding to the birds ' plight , a series of forest fires devastated the national park and another area where the merganser was thought to have a stronghold .
mergansers ( subfamily : merginae ) are specialist fish - eating waterfowl . five of the six extant species have broad distributions in cool temperate and arctic regions of the northern hemisphere , where they primarily or exclusively inhabit lakes and rivers . the sixth , the now very rare brazilian merganser ( mergus octosetaceus ) once occurred more widely on brazilian and argentine rivers . a coastal and marine habitat has been ascribed to the new zealand mergansers , which contrasts with the habitat of other mergansers notwithstanding the red - breasted merganser’s ( m . serrator ) seasonal use of sheltered coastal bays , coves and estuaries .
the species is legally protected in all three range states . it occurs in three brazilian national parks , two state parks and one private protected area ( braz
the conservation of the species necessarily depends on measures involving the recuperation and conservation of riparian forests , watercourses , and their springs and banks . thus , besides the benefits for the conservation of brazilian merganser itself , those measures would be geared towards the rescue of fundamental values of land use and environmental conservation .
the species inhabits clean rivers and streams , with rapids and still waters , bordered by forests or native vegetation , and with an abundance of fish . it is a shy bird and it is quite difficult to see in the wild . it prefers sparsely populated areas and avoids human presence , although at some localities it is bolder and occurs closer to villages and small towns . the brazilian merganser seems to tolerate some environmental degradation if there are well preserved stretches in its territory so the birds can seek shelter . territory size of the brazilian merganser varies between 5 - 12 km of rivers and streams in the serra da canastra region .
williams , m . j . 2015 . auckland island merganser . in miskelly , c . m . ( ed . ) new zealand birds online . urltoken
we do not have evidence of the depth of the impact of tourism activities on brazilian merganser populations . in the serra da canastra national park the type of tourism developed thus far do not seem to interfere significantly with the brazilian merganser’s behavior , given that a pair has been breeding successfully over the years close to one of the most often visited areas in the park ( silveira and bartmann 2001 , bartmann 1988 , and personal observations ) . nevertheless , there has been a significant increase in tourism , both in the park and in its vicinity . the ever - growing number of tourists who come looking for rivers and waterfalls could potentially interfere with the birds’ behaviour ; this should be monitored closely .
we helped write the action plan for conserving brazilian mergansers . drawing on our long experience of waterbird monitoring , we helped terra brasilis establish a capture and marking programme using leg rings and radio transmitters . it was the first time brazilian mergansers had ever been caught for science and the ongoing programme is helping us to understand how the birds use the densely forested rivers .
bruno , s . f . and bartmann , w . ( 2003 ) brazilian mergansers in serra da canastra national park , minas gerais state , brazil . twsg news , 14 : 53 - 54 .
auckland island merganser . image from hombron , j . b . & jacquinot , h . voyage au pôle sud . zoologie . vol . 3 , . paris , france . image © no known copyright restrictions
williams , m . ; holdaway , r . n . ; rogers , k . m . 2012 . feeding environments of new zealand’s extinct merganser revealed by stable isotope analyses . wildfowl 62 : 190 - 203 .
the brazilian merganser exists in extremely low numbers at a few , highly disjunct localities in south - central brazil . in 2002 , the species was also found on the arroyo uruzú in misiones , argentina , the first record in the country for 10 years , despite extensive surveys . the bird was last recorded in paraguay in 1984 , where very little habitat remains , although local reports indicate that a few individuals may still survive there ( 4 ) .
carboneras , c . , kirwan , g . m . & sharpe , c . j . ( 2018 ) . brazilian merganser ( mergus octosetaceus ) . 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 ) .
a total of 27 specimens are known to have been obtained from the auckland islands . merganser bones found in natural deposits and maori middens at sites on north , south , and stewart islands are possibly referable to the same species .
it is also vital to promote an awareness - raising campaign on the importance of this species among people who live in the areas where it occurs . most inhabitants of these areas do not know the brazilian merganser . revealing the importance of the species to the community , and demonstrating that its presence in the region is a valuable feature and something to be proud of , could get people involved and committed in the search for , and application of , beneficial actions for its conservation .
the brazilian merganser is a very rare and threatened species that nowadays inhabits only a few protected areas and their surroundings in the brazilian territory . in order to estimate the remaining genetic diversity and population structure in this species , two mitochondrial genes were sequenced in 39 individuals belonging to two populations and in one individual collected in argentina in 1950 . we found a highly significant divergence between two major remaining populations of mergus octosetaceus , which suggests a historical population structure in this species . furthermore , two deeply divergent lineages were found in a single location , which could due to current or historical secondary contact . based on the available genetic data , we point out future directions which would contribute to design strategies for conservation and management of this threatened species .
when estimating the global population , don’t count on any individuals in argentina . i know of only one potential sighting in argentina since the 2002 record : on the arroyo pepirí guazú , miro ( 2010 ) saw three waterbirds that might have been brazilian mergansers .
the scarcity of information on the brazilian merganser’s biology and behavior makes it difficult to make decisions affecting the conservation and management of this species . studies on reproduction , feeding behavior , territories , intra - and interspecific interactions , and environmental factors affecting the species must be encouraged . research involving the marking of individuals , preferably with the use of radio transmitters , for confirmation of the home range , and daily and seasonal movements , is essential to accurate estimates of the size and dynamics of the populations .
hunting does not seem to be a current threat to the brazilian merganser . we heard stories , which we could not substantiate , that the species used to be hunted in the past . some local inhabitants claimed that it is not advantageous to hunt the bird as it is difficult to approach and at the same time small and with very little meat . yet , one has to take into account that the whole subject of “hunting” is mostly avoided by all and only rarely we find someone willing to provide positive information .
spp . , each pair using on average 9 km of river . range size was thought to be related to the availability of suitable nesting and feeding sites . scnp and its environs contain very little mature gallery forest with trees large enough to provide nest sites ( most having been selectively logged in the past ) . there is also competition for nest sites with other birds and mammals . all suitable habitat surrounding the scnp is now occupied by adult birds , leaving none for young birds . further research is needed to determine the fate and dispersion routes of juveniles . future conservation priorities for brazilian merganser in and around scnp include the installation of nest boxes to test whether the availability of good quality nest sites limits breeding success . a captive breeding programme could be established using eggs from these nest boxes . this would help to ensure the survival of this species and to provide birds for future reintroduction programmes should they be deemed necessary . further surveys , with subsequent establishment of reserves at key sites , are required throughout the brazilian merganser ' s range .
similar species : there were no species that the auckland island merganser could have been confused with at its last retreat around the coasts of the auckland islands . around mainland new zealand and the chatham islands , the yellow - footed stictocarbo shags ( spotted shag and pitt island shag ) were ( and are ) common around coastlines , and were of similar body shape and colouration to the auckland island merganser . however , the two shags were slightly larger and had different head colouration and crest formation , and many structural differences if seen at sufficiently close range .
in september 2007 , an information centre was opened in são roque de minas , a town in the region of serra da canastra , coordinated by the instituto terra brasilis . the purpose of this centre is to exchange and disseminate socio - environmental information and consolidate the brazilian merganser as the symbol for the ecosystem conservation in that region . the centre has been very successful ; more than 3 , 000 people have taken part in its activities , which include presentations , workshops , contests , movies and games . some local schools have included a visit to the centre in their regular activities .
auckland island merganser pairs were probably strongly territorial , maintaining their territory and relationship year - round . the eastern inlets of auckland island and the bays within carnley harbour each have a small feeding stream and it is unlikely that more than one pair could have occupied any inlet and bay .
brazilian merganser is a slender , dark , medium - sized bird , with a typically long crest on the rear of the head . back and wings are grayish brown . head and neck darker with metallic dark green reflections , better seen under sunlight . the breast is pale gray with narrow darker stripes ; the color of the underparts becomes paler towards the abdomen . the wing white mirror is visible during flight and it is also commonly observed when the birds are resting or swimming . the head crest is longer in the males than females . the bill is thin , narrow and serrated .
for this particular issue , the brazilian journal of ornithology will publish articles and reviews on ornithology in general , with emphasis on neotropical birds . it is indexed in databases zoological records , biological abstract , scopus , and isi . the current ( june 2017 ) impact factor is 0 . 414 ) . the journal o
mergus is the genus of the typical mergansers , fish - eating ducks in the seaduck subfamily ( merginae ) . the hooded merganser , often termed mergus cucullatus , is not of this genus but closely related . the other
aberrant
merganser , the smew ( mergellus albellus ) , is phylogenetically closer to goldeneyes ( bucephala ) . although they are seaducks , most of the mergansers prefer riverine habitats , with only the red - breasted merganser being common at sea . these large fish - eaters typically have black - and - white , brown and / or green hues in their plumage , and most have shomewhat shaggy crests . all have serrated edges to their long and thin bills that help them grip their prey . along with the smew and hooded merganser , they are therefore often known as
sawbills
. the goldeneyes , on the other hand , feed mainly on mollusks , and therefore have a more typical duck - bill . they are also classified as
divers
because they go completely under - water in looking for food . in other traits , however , the genera mergus , lophodytes , mergellus , and bucephala are very similar ; uniquely among all anseriformes , they do not have notches at the hind margin of their sternum , but holes surrounded by bone .
as mentioned above , less than 250 of these birds are left . they came from a central and southern brazilian region , and eventually fell into nearby regions of both argentina and paraguay . however , the populations confirmed to remain are all to be seen in brazil as none have been reported in argentina for quite some time – reports are scarce in 2015 .
our project´s intention was to find the dove merganser ( mergus octosetaceus ) and purple –winged ground dove ( claravus godefrida ) which used to inhabit the higly endangered upper parana atlantic forest in paraguay . however , the loss of more than 90 % of forest cover due to the expansion of cattle ranching and agriculture had severely impacted these species . both species are categorized as cr ( critically endangered ) by the uicn´s redlist mainly because of habitat loss and pollution of rivers . currently the only stable population of the merganser is in the serra da canastra national park in brazil and in recent years there have been new records in argentina . in paraguay the species was last seen in 1983 .
the brazilian merganser is one of the ten most threatened waterfowl in the world , with possibly fewer than 250 birds thought to remain ( 3 ) . this dark , slender duck has a shiny dark - green hood with a long crest , which is usually shorter and worn - looking in females ( 4 ) ( 5 ) . upperparts are dark grey while the breast is light grey , getting paler towards the whitish belly , and a white wing patch ( speculum ) is particularly noticeable in flight ( 4 ) ( 5 ) . the bill is long and dark ( 4 ) , shorter in the female ( 2 ) , and the legs are pink to orange - red ( 4 ) ( 5 ) .
one such project is taking place at zooparque itatiba in brazil . conservation teams have been continuing their efforts to locate and track breeding brazilian mergansers through some of the most remote river habitat . when a healthy nest is discovered , the teams remove a few of the eggs and transport them back to zooparque itatiba , leaving the rest to hatch with the parents in the wild . in 2015 , the teams were able to collect a total of eight eggs from two different nest sites , and successfully raised all eight ducklings back at the zoo . should the habitat for wild brazilian mergansers continue to degrade , the birds housed at zooparque itatiba will ensure that this species does not disappear altogether . ideally , their offspring may also help bolster wild populations in the future .
we thank the specialist work group for the conservation of brazilian merganser for valuable discussions and opinions on this manuscript . we also thank all the staff from instituto terra brasilis and funatura ( vivian s . braz and gislaine disconzi ) for collecting the samples at serra da canastra and chapada dos veadeiros , respectively ; dario a . lijtmaerand and pablo tubaro for providing the samples from argentina , bradley c . livezey for sending copies of his papers , and geoff m . hilton and paulo de tarso z . antas for useful suggestions that greatly improved this manuscript . the present study received grants from fapemig , cnpq , petrobras ambiental and fundação o boticário de conservação da natureza , and followed all ethical guidelines and legal requirements of brazil for sampling and studying an endangered species .
is considered to be one of the rarest and most threatened species in the neotropical region , yet little is known about its distribution and life - history . we studied the population of brazilian merganser in and around serra da canastra national park ( scnp ) in minas gerais , brazil , during 1996 , with additional observations from 1997 to 2000 . in this paper we report the sighting of previously undiscovered pairs and present some new behavioural data , including a description of calls performed by males and females , feeding behaviour , home ranges , parental care and population density . we also describe a previously unreported plumage of the young . a total of 39 individuals were recorded , comprising 12 adults ( six pairs ) and 27 young . brood size ranged from two to four ( mean 2 . 7 ) , being smaller than in other
a large merganser with a dark brown head and neck , dark grey upper body , dull greyish - brown breast and abdomen , dark brown eyes , a long slender serrated yellowish - orange bill with black on the upper mandible , and orange legs and feet . the upper wings were slate grey , and the lower wing coverts were darker and banded white ; males were larger with an elongated crest .
brazilian mergansers nest in holes of trees , and holes in rocks and in river banks . nest site for brazilian merganser , in rock cavity . the entrance to the nest cavity is located from 2 to 25 m above the water . only the female incubates , and she leaves the nest twice per day to feed . the male spends most time resting or feeding nearby , constantly vigilant , but sometimes flies off , departing the area for several hours . the female lays up to eight eggs , which are incubated for about 34 days . when leaving the nest , the female covers the eggs with her down feathers . the ducklings leave the nest in the following day after hatching . the ducklings are encouraged to abandon the nest by the motherīs call . the family stays together all the time ; the parents constantly keep the young between them . the parents provide the ducklings with fishes and invertebrates . they feed their young directly into their beaks , or they place caught fish in the water after shaking it in order the ducklings can catch it . after 10 days of life , young were observed fishing on their own , reducing the need for food provided by their parents . the young are able to perform short flies when they are around 2 months old . they generally stay with their parents about six months or even longer . many young die in these first months of life .
another potential , but very poorly studied , effect is the presence of exotic species of fish in the region . the peacock bass ( cichla sp . ) , along with other allochthonous species , commonly are introduced into the reservoirs and water courses . the peacock bass is also very common in fish - and - pay ponds . such predatory species have caused profound changes in the environments where they have been introduced , with the disadvantage that there are no effective processes to eradicate the species once it has settled in a host community ( fabio vieira 2002 , pers . comm . ) . though the peacock bass prefers to inhabit mostly still - water environments , it is possible to find it in river stretches . being an essentially fish - eating species , it may alter the dynamics of the native water communities as it becomes established . small native fish make up the brazilian merganser’s basic source of food and any factor interfering with the supply may have serious consequences for its populations .
mergansers were extirpated following polynesian settlement of new zealand and chatham islands . the auckland island population would have been severely diminished by predation by pigs and cats following their release onto auckland island in the 1820s , and possibly also by being a food for early sealers at the island . the earnest collecting of specimens for museums , especially in the 1890s , led to the last specimen being seen , and collected , in january 1902 , a mere 60 years after the merganser’s initial discovery .
their main distribution location seems to be within serra da canastra , where just under a fifth of the remaining population all remain . the last recorded ducks within argentina , for example , were in 2002 when they were found within the misiones . other than this , the animals are very much rare to be seen across the world as they have been ravaged by various different reasons . their habitats are diversely spread out as well , meaning that close interaction between groups of the merganser are no longer possible , which has contributed to their current state .
a duck of slender proportion and a dark color , it’s got a particularly long crest which tends to be a little bit shorter when you are talking about a female merganser . the upper body of these creatures tends to be dark grey , whilst the breast is a light grey color in contrast . one of the most striking things about these creatures , however , is the fact that they are mostly silent – when they do make noise , it almost sounds like a dogs bark rather than the traditional quack you would expect to hear from a duck .
brazilian mergansers feed basically on small fish they capture during dives , although aquatic macroinvertebrates also contribute to their diet . very often , before diving , they search for their prey swimming with just their heads submerged . dives can last 15 to 20 seconds , and even 30 seconds in deeper pools . we have observed them catching insects flying around their heads . in the serra da canastra region , the most common fish species which serve as their food are lambaris and barrigudinho . stomach content analysis of individuals from misiones , argentina , showed they ate lambaris , ciclids , catfish , virolito , larvae of dobson flies and , probably , molluscs .
we would like to invite participants of this ornithological congress of the americas to submit manuscripts to be considered for publication on a special volume of the brazilian journal of ornithology . we welcome review and case study manuscripts derived from the research exposed at the meeting . particularly , we would like to invite organizers of each symposium , as well as symposium´s participants , to submit a review manuscript on the topic of the symposium , which could have particular emphasis on the individual talks involved in the symposium . also , we would like to publish one study case per symposium . in addition to the manuscripts derived from symposia , we encourage other authors presenting their studies to submit manuscripts as a general submi
there are some recent research on the conservation status of the species in its distribution area originally known . these studies show that the species is still under heavy anthropic pressures , including the region of the national park of serra da canastra where diamond exploration sector has been doing strong pressures to mine even in protected areas . ex situ conservation initiatives have been conducted by the brazilian government , researchers and breeders , and today there are , the only two individuals of the species that are officially raised in captivity from eggs collected in the wild . therefore i believe it is still incipient to change the status of the species to a threat condition “lower” than the current one . especially because the conservation status of the species serves as an argument for compensation discussions as part of environmental projects
the sexes of the auckland island merganser were similar to each other , but males were larger and had an obvious and elongated crest . the head and neck were dark brown , the entire upper body dark grey , and the breast and abdomen dull greyish - brown . the upper wings were slate grey , and the lower wing coverts were darker and banded white . the middle secondary flight feathers were white on the outer web and black on the inner web and tips , with the primary flight feathers and inner secondaries tending blackish . the eyes were dark brown , and the upper bill black but with its cutting edge and the lower mandible yellowish - orange ; the legs and feet were orange . immature birds were darker versions of the adults . ducklings were dark brown - black above with yellowish - white underparts . their bill , legs and feet were dark olive - brown .
brazilian mergansers nest in holes of trees , and holes in rocks and in river banks ( lamas and santos 2004 , partridge 1956 , andrade et al . in press ) . the entrance to the nest cavity is located from 2 to 25 m above the water . only the female incubates , and she leaves the nest twice per day to feed ( bruno et al . , in press ) . the male spends most time resting or feeding nearby , constantly vigilant , but sometimes flies off , departing the area for several hours . the female lays up to eight eggs , which are incubated for about 34 days ( bruno et al . , in press ) . the eggs are oval in shape and pale beige , almost white , in coloration . the following mean measures data were taken from one nest with seven eggs : 61 . 7 mm ( length ) , 42 . 5 mm ( width ) and 59 . 86 g ( weight ) ( lamas and santos 2004 ) . when leaving the nest , the female covers the eggs with her down feathers .
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thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the iucn red list of threatened species website , we are grateful for your input .
sacc . 2005 and updates . a classification of the bird species of south america . available at : urltoken .
49 - 56 cm . dark , slender duck with long crest . dark hood with petroleum - green sheen . pale grey breast finely vermiculated dark , paler towards whitish belly . dark grey upperparts . white wing speculum . long , dark saw - bill . pinky - lilac legs . long , bushy hindcrest usually worn and shorter in females .
benstead , p . , bird , j . , butchart , s . , calvert , r . , capper , d . , clay , r . , mazar barnett , j . , pilgrim , j . , sharpe , c j , symes , a . , taylor , j . , khwaja , n . & ashpole , j
recent records from brazil indicate that this species ' s status may be marginally better than previously thought . nevertheless , the remaining known population is still extremely small and fragmented , and the perturbation , damming and pollution of rivers are likely to be causing continuing declines . for these reasons , it is listed as critically endangered . further information on the population size ( in particular whether it exceeds 250 mature individuals ) and on the subpopulation structure may result in its downlisting to endangered in the future .
. 2013 ) , where recent surveys yielded a rough estimate of 70 - 100 territories , roughly equivalent to 140 - 200 mature individuals ( l . v . lins unpubl . data ) ; if confirmed this would represent a significant increase to the size of the largest known subpopulation . tributaries of the rio são francisco in west bahia were thought to hold a significant population
( pineschi and yamashita 1999 ) , but a 2003 survey there failed to locate any birds . it has recently been found in patrocínio municipality , minas gerais ( i . lamas
2012 ) ; a record from itacolomi state parque in the same state is though thought to refer to an accidental or escaped bird ( arvelino de paula 2008 , l . v . lins
2012 ) . in goiás , there are records from emas and chapada dos veadeiros national parks ; the latter being surveyed in 2003 - 2004 with birds found just outside the park in the rio das pedras , and the total in the area thought to number fewer than 50 individuals ( disconzi 2012 ) . in 1995 , a small population was discovered on the rio tibagi , paraná
2003 ) , and six expeditions in 2007 and 2008 surveying a c . 55 km stretch of the rio novo located three breeding pairs ( barbosa and almeida 2010 ) , and four pairs along 115 km of river in 2010 - 2011 ( iecos brasil 2013 per l . v . lins
( pacheco and fonseca 1999 ) , são paulo , and santa catarina . in misiones ,
, 12 individuals were found on the arroyo uruzú in 2002 , the first records in the country for 10 years despite extensive surveys ( benstead 1994 , hearn 1994 , j . c . chebez
, it was last recorded in 1984 and there is little ( if any ) habitat left . however , local reports indicate that a few individuals may still survive
the population was estimated at 250 individuals in 1992 , and was thought likely to have declined since given ongoing threats , however there are recent suggestions that the population may exceed this figure ( l . v . lins
2012 ) . recent estimates from the three main areas currently known to hold the species are of 70 - 100 territories ( 140 - 200 mature individuals ) in the serra da canastra area ( l . v . lins
2012 , 2013 ) , fewer than 50 individuals at chapada dos veadeiros ( disconzi 2012 ) and eight at jalapão ( iecos brasil 2013 per l . v . lins
2015 ) , but these figures require confirmation and the population is currently precautionarily maintained within the band 50 - 249 mature individuals .
this species ' s population is suspected to have declined rapidly over the last 20 years ( three generations ) , in line with habitat loss and degradation within its range , owing to the expansion of hydroelectric power schemes , soy bean cultivation and mining operations . it appears to have been extirpated from paraguay .
it inhabits shallow , fast - flowing rivers , requiring rapids and clear waters . it occurs especially in the upper tributaries of watersheds but ranges into small rivers with patches of gallery forest surrounded by
cerrado
( tropical savanna ) or within atlantic forest . it is non - migratory and does not abandon the stretch of river where it establishes its territory
, but timing may vary geographically . incubation may last c . 33 days ( bruno
. previously , the species was thought to rely on gallery forest which , although protected by law in brazil , has been cleared illegally throughout much of the species ' s range . however , evidence suggests it will occur on unforested , undisturbed stretches of river through cerrado . all recent records of the species in the serra da canastra region refer to unprotected sites north of the national park . these are sites under increasing pressure from mining , development of hydropower infrastructure and agriculture ( l . v . lins
1999 ) , and it is thought that diamond mining will resume at serra da canastra in the near future ( l . v . lins
2003 ) . dam - building has already caused severe declines across much of its range , and is increasing in scale ( l . v . lins
2003 ) , although there are no recent published records from emas national park . a species action plan has been published which outlines in detail its current status , ecology , threats and proposed conservation actions
( ibama 2006 ) . it is considered nationally critically endangered in brazil ( silveira & straube 2008 , mma 2014 ) . in argentina , sections of the arroyo uruzú are protected within the uruguaí provincial park ( p . benstead verbally 2004 ) . regular monitoring of the population in serra da canastra national park , brazil is conducted and in 2008 a team from the wwt and terra brasilis colour - ringed 14 individuals and fitted five of them with radio transmitters in order to increase knowledge of the species ' s movements and ecology ( braz
2006 ) . nest boxes have recently been installed within the protected area ( l . v . lins
2011 ) . a captive breeding programme was initiated in 2011 at the poços de caldas breeding center in minas gerais . two young have been successfully reared so far ( l . v . lins
. the pato aqui água acolá project has been engaging with students in the serra da canastra region to improve understanding of environmental problems related to the cerrado biome ( instituto terra brasilis 2014a ) . the project has also set up the conscious decision campaign to engage with those responsible for environmental licensing , construction and tourism activities that could have an impact on water quality within the species ' s range ( instituto terra brasilis 2015 ) .
2012 ) . continue to monitor the serra da canastra population . implement survey work in the jalapão region to find new individuals ( instituto terra brasilis 2014b ) . develop and implement a fieldwork strategy using satellite images . protect the watershed and riverine habitats of populations , especially in bahia . improve local awareness and promote riverbank protection . conduct surveys in paraguay to confirm local reports . advocate for the expansion of the chapada dos veadeiros national park in brazil to include the population in the rio das pedras ( bianchi
2005 ) . continue to develop captive breeding programmes . in 2014 a workshop was held in tocantins to discuss the conservation of the species in the jalapão region , measures discussed included a proposed normative instruction to outline activities that are not permitted in areas where the species is found ( instituto terra brasilis 2014b ) .
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pairs occupy permanent territories of 8 to 14 km stretches of river ( 4 ) , depending on the availability of suitable nesting and feeding sites ( 6 ) . nests are built in tree cavities and rock crevices ( 4 ) . the breeding season is thought to last from june to august , but may vary geographically ( 4 ) , and broods of between two and four chicks are usually raised ( 6 ) .
inhabits shallow , fast - flowing streams and rivers with rapids and clear waters , surrounded by dense tropical forest ( 2 ) ( 4 ) .
classified as critically endangered ( cr ) on the iucn red list 2006 ( 1 ) .
information authenticated ( 02 / 05 / 07 ) by dr baz hughes , head of species conservation , wildfowl and wetlands trust , slimbridge , uk . urltoken
speculum a bright and lustrous patch of colour found on the wings of ducks and some other birds .
del hoyo , j . , elliott , a . and sargatal , j . ( 1992 ) handbook of the birds of the world – ostrich to ducks . vol . 1 . lynx edicions , barcelona .
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recommended citation birdlife international ( 2018 ) species factsheet : mergus octosetaceus . 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 .
) , version 1 . 0 . in neotropical birds online ( t . s . schulenberg , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , ny , usa .
isolated populations in se brazil in bahia , tocantins , goiás , minas gerais and paraná ( species is believed extinct in mato grosso do sul , rio de janeiro , são paulo and santa catarina ) , and ne argentina ( misiones ) . may still survive in e paraguay ( alto paraná ) .
49–56 cm ; 600–700 g . head , neck and upperparts dark brown with greenish iridescence and long crest ; upperwing blackish , secondaries and greater wing - coverts white . . .
usually silent , vocalizations being mainly heard during breeding season or when threatened , but . . .
rapid , torrential streams and fast - flowing rivers usually fringed by dense tropical forest , . . .
mostly fish ( of 6–19 cm length , characids , cichlids , pimelodids and hemiodontids ) , complemented with molluscs and insects and their . . .
few data available until recently . season apparently starts jun / jul ( dry season ) , with first ducklings hatching in early jul and young . . .
mostly sedentary , with only small - scale movements recorded , with genetic structure in . . .
critically endangered . small , little - known population , estimated at just 50–249 mature individuals by birdlife international , widely scattered over range ( of 32 , 600 km2 . . .
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josep del hoyo , mark andrews , lúcio , fran trabalon , carlos gussoni .
sávio freire bruno , petemorris , bruno salaroli , dubi shapiro , claudia brasileiro , douglas bete , edson endrigo , fran trabalon , mark andrews .
in addition to collecting and raising these birds , zooparque itatiba staff have been building a large new aviary and pool to house the adolescent birds . at the october 2015 iwwa conference , a grant from the iwwa was allocated towards the completion of this project .
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this contributes to their rather comical image among some brazilians . however , their plight as a species is no laughing matter – it’s estimated that less than 250 of these birds are left in the world . they are in danger to such a scale that very little is even known about their traditional breeding techniques and style .
the most common threat to these ducks is down to humans , believe it or not . as industry and agriculture has expanded , their habitats have become smaller and been degraded . water has also become more toxic , and this has been a serious contributor to their massive demise .
soil erosion and deforestation play a part too , however . dam - building has been another key killer for these creatures , as they have been eradicating small rivers and turning them into massive lakes which aren’t suitable for the ducks . pesticides are one of the main killers as well , contributing to their measly number remaining .
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wwt has been supporting the terra brasilis institute , a local conservation organisation which is passionate about conserving the cerrado habitat in and around the serra da canastra national park , and the mergansers that live there . cerrado is an extensive savannah criss - crossed by gallery forests , which are evergreen corridors that have formed along the rivers and wetlands .
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recent records from brazil , and particularly a recent northerly range extension , indicate that this species ' s status is better than previously thought . nevertheless , the remaining population is still extremely small and severely fragmented , and the perturbation , damming and pollution of rivers continue to cause declines . for these reasons , it is listed as critically endangered . perturbation and pollution of rivers results largely from deforestation , agricultural expansion and , in the serra da canastra area , diamond - mining . previously , the species was thought to rely on gallery forest which , although protected by law in brazil , has been cleared illegally throughout much of the species ' s range . however , evidence suggests it will occur on unforested , undisturbed stretches of river through cerrado . mining has ceased in the immediate area of its known range but there is no additional habitat for dispersing birds . expanding agriculture and the construction of hydroelectric dams are considered the principal threats to the species . dam - building has already caused severe declines across much of its range . tourist activities result in river perturbation and have been recorded within known territories and inside national parks .