Wiktionary
n. Any of the species of the taxonomic genus (taxlink Gopherus genus noshow=1), which are burrowing tortoises of southern North America.
WordNet
n. burrowing edible land tortoise of southeastern North America [syn: gopher turtle, gopher, Gopherus polypemus]
Wikipedia
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.
Usage examples of "gopher tortoise".
There was always a chance of the odd burrowing owl or gopher tortoise.
Don't know too much about ol' Sim, might been one them misfits from the Civil War hid out back up there on that key, took plenty of gopher tortoise for his dinner.
Slowly, her thoughts moving at the speed of a gopher tortoise on a slow day, she grasped at the spark of an idea.