A little game...guess the tortoise

[counting]

I hope this is alright, I noticed that a lot of you seem to really enjoy guessing the tortoise species!

Here's a picture of the coolest tortoise I know!

Can you guess his species and age?

 

[RosieTortoise]

Is he an older Russian? I'm so new to the tortoise world...

 

[counting]

Not a Russian
But certainly an older guy.

 

[GingerLove]

Hmm.. how about a gopher tortoise age 10? (Random age guess.) It's hard for me to tell if he's in a big enclosure or a small one so I don't really know his size. That's my disclaimer in case I get it wrong.

 

[Yvonne G]

I was going to say chaco, but they don't have a nuchal scute. Let's see if @Markw84 has any ideas.

 

[counting]

Ginger takes the cake!!! He is a gopher! (Gopherus polyphemus)Impressive guess!

Age 10 is not correct though

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Four years ?

 

[counting]

Hint-
older

 

[teresaf]

30? Aren't they protected?

 

[counting]

Teresaf- I believe so. He's not my pet ( so please don't worry! I promise he is completely legal)

Older than 30

 

[GingerLove]

Hooray for me!!!!!! I love this game!! And he's older than thirty?!! Never would have guessed!

 

[counting]

Hooray for me!!!!!! I love this game!! And he's older than thirty?!! Never would have guessed!

I was surprised someone got it so quickly! They are not a typical "pet" species! I see you are from Florida? Have you seen a wild one before?

He is older than 30! He's lived quite a pampered life so perhaps that's why he isn't showing his age!?

 

[counting]

Same animal

 

[Markw84]

I was surprised someone got it so quickly! They are not a typical "pet" species! I see you are from Florida? Have you seen a wild one before?

He is older than 30! He's lived quite a pampered life so perhaps that's why he isn't showing his age!?

Gopher tortoises are pretty distinctive in the nuchal scute plus the smoother looking front scales on the front legs and they always look to me to have a fairly large head. The older ones really get almost polished looking carapaces from going in and out of their burrows. That one wouldn't surprise me if it was 50+ years old.

 

[TheSulcata]

Same animal

I'm gonna guess 47

 

[counting]

Older

And yes Mark, he has a big head and a very distinct look. I think gopher tortoises are cute, but I may have a bias! He's a really awesome creature!

 

[GingerLove]

I was surprised someone got it so quickly! They are not a typical "pet" species! I see you are from Florida? Have you seen a wild one before?

He is older than 30! He's lived quite a pampered life so perhaps that's why he isn't showing his age!?

Yes, I've actually seen one in the wild before! However, the ones I have seen always have darker shells. But the head looked very similar and I've looked at some other gopher tortoises on this forum. I remember telling someone that I would like it if one wandered into my backyard and decided to stay there! Gopher's are awesome. When do we find out how old he is???

 

[teresaf]

We have a wild pair here in my neighborhood...So fun seeing them in the yard...

 

[GingerLove]

We have a wild pair here in my neighborhood...So fun seeing them in the yard...

In the yard?!! What a dream come true. Is it illegal to try to feed them?

 

[counting]

Oh my goodness, must be so cool to see them in the yard...
Even just the wild in general

If anyone has any final guesses, I'll reveal his age in a few minutes!