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Abbreviation Legend
- (CE) - Criticially Endangered
- (CI) - Critically Imperiled
- (E) - Endangered
- (I) - Introduced
- (IM) - Imperiled
- (NT) - Near Threatened
- (T) - Threatened
- (V) - Vulnerable
- (**) - Recent Classification Change
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Tortoises of the United States
Tortoises are strictly terrestrial. Their hind feet are stumpy and elephantine, the front limbs bear thick hard scales, and all lack webbing. Ther shell is often done shaped, and the thick carapace and plastron are united by a well developed bridge. The male's plastron is concave. The only native tortoises are the Genus Gopherus, commonly called Gopher tortoises or Desert Tortoises. These have flattened front limbs and are accomplished burrowers. All are herbivorous. Females may nest 2 or 3 times a season.
There are 13 species of Tortoises in the United States, 8 of which are Introduced species.
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