 
What is a Gopherus polyphemus? It's found in Florida  and
is one of four North American species of tortoises. It's a slow walking tortoise, brown
in color, and inhabits the sandy transitional zones between grassland and woods. The gopher
tortoise has a feeding time of early morning and late afternoon, when it loves to eat grasses,
sea grape, Opuntia cactus, and strangler figs. They love to drink water, and after a rain you'll
find them slurping in the puddles.It will not take first place in a beauty contest, but yet is impressive with its large round head, and a fairly high and somewhat round shell. In case you may ask, the top of the shell is called the carapace and the lower part of the shell is the plastron. The shell can reach 15 inches in length and is designed to protect the turtle from its enemies. It protects itself by digging a tunnel as round as its shell. When retreating to the tunnel, it will turn around somewhat on the edge of its shell. All that is exposed is the rounded high dome which is difficult for any predator to bite and hang on to. It's like a cork in a bottle. The Egmont Key State Park is an ideal place in Florida to photograph, paint, and get close to the gopher tortoise. Even though they are slow, they have many places to hide in the wild. This makes them hard to find. There are approximately 1500 tortoises on the island. Incidentally, when the tortoises are found, and the male is feeling amorous, watch them, because the female will be constantly harassed by the male. He circles the female with his head bobbing up and down, biting her legs and shell in a mating ritual. Oh well, I shall get off the subject. Too late, some one said they counted about 7 eggs, or was it 12? 
Aesop, the legendary Greek story teller, told the tale of the "Tortoise
and the Hare" and through determination and wisdom the tortoise wins a race with the hare. Native American
tribes created the greatest number of folk tales in which the turtle plays an important part in their
cosmological beliefs. The tortoise, a land turtle, a revered reptile, was known by people the world over
during time now lost. In ancient myths and legends this reptile was worshiped as a symbol of wisdom, strength,
and benevolence.Just think, all of this is about a tortoise having a shell, neck, skull, skin, and miscellaneous intestines. Its only expertise is digging a tunnel for himself and all the little critters. 
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