Alternative Text Description for Gopher Tortoise (Threatened) Range Map

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the geographic range of the Gopher Tortoise, a threatened species in Florida, as part of the state's official endangered and threatened species distribution dataset. The map shows where this species is found across Florida and portions of neighboring states, using habitat range boundaries to indicate the areas where the Gopher Tortoise population occurs. This information supports conservation planning and species management efforts for this imperiled wildlife species.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the state of Florida in its entirety, extending northward into southern Georgia and Alabama, and westward into the Florida Panhandle near Pensacola. Major cities labeled on the map include Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, Cape Coral, and Savannah (Georgia). The map shows Florida's distinctive peninsula extending southward with the Gulf of America to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Notable geographic features labeled include Everglades National Park in southern Florida, Dry Tortugas National Park, and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge in the Florida Keys area. The Apalachicola National Forest is visible in the northern Florida Panhandle region. The Straits of Florida are labeled at the southern extent of the map.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Gopher Tortoise range encompasses nearly the entire state of Florida, from the Panhandle through the peninsula, with notable exceptions in southern tip areas. The species range extends into southern portions of Georgia and Alabama, particularly in the coastal regions near Pensacola and north of Tallahassee. A significant gap in the range appears in extreme southern Florida, including most of Everglades National Park and the southern coastal areas near the park. The range boundary follows Florida's coastline closely but excludes immediate coastal barrier islands in many areas. The continuous nature of the range across most of Florida suggests widespread habitat availability throughout the state's interior and coastal plain regions.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Gopher Tortoise (Threatened) Range

This layer represents the geographic distribution and habitat range of the Gopher Tortoise across Florida and adjacent states.

Gopher Tortoise Range Area (pink crosshatch pattern)

Appearance:

The range is depicted with a pink or magenta fill overlaid with a white diagonal crosshatch pattern, creating a distinctive mesh-like appearance. The boundary is outlined with a bright pink or magenta border.

Distribution:

The range covers the vast majority of Florida, extending from the western Panhandle near Pensacola eastward through Tallahassee and southward through the entire peninsula. The range reaches into southern Georgia north of Jacksonville and Valdosta, and extends into southeastern Alabama near the Florida border.

Notable locations:

The range includes major population centers such as Tallahassee, Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Cape Coral. The range extends through central Florida including the Lakeland and Palm Bay areas. In the Panhandle, the range encompasses Pensacola and the Apalachicola National Forest region.

Spatial patterns:

The range follows a largely continuous pattern across Florida with relatively uniform coverage throughout the state's interior. The most significant exclusion occurs in extreme southern Florida, where Everglades National Park and surrounding areas fall outside the range boundary. The range boundary generally follows coastal contours but excludes some immediate shoreline areas and barrier islands. The northern extent creates an irregular boundary as it crosses into Georgia and Alabama, suggesting habitat limitations at the northern edge of the species distribution.

Excluded Areas (no pattern)

Appearance:

Areas without the crosshatch pattern appear in the base map colors, showing as tan or beige landmass or blue water bodies.

Distribution:

The primary excluded land area within Florida occurs in the southern tip of the state, encompassing Everglades National Park and adjacent southern coastal regions.

Notable locations:

Everglades National Park is clearly labeled and falls largely outside the Gopher Tortoise range. Southern coastal areas near the Everglades also lack the range designation.

Spatial patterns:

The exclusion zone in southern Florida creates a distinct gap in an otherwise continuous range pattern, suggesting habitat unsuitability in the wetland-dominated Everglades ecosystem and southernmost coastal areas.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents the species range as a continuous area rather than individual observation points, indicating where suitable habitat exists and where the species is known to occur. The Gopher Tortoise is designated as a threatened species under Florida's endangered and threatened species list. The range boundary represents the outer limits of the species distribution and does not necessarily indicate uniform population density throughout. Protected areas such as Everglades National Park are labeled on the map, with the Everglades notably falling outside the primary tortoise range, likely due to unsuitable wetland habitat conditions. The map is intended for conservation planning, regulatory compliance, and species management purposes.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data represents Florida's official endangered and threatened species list as depicted in the ISMP (Integrated Species Management Plan) and SAP (Species Action Plan) of 2013, with updates applied in December 2025. The dataset is maintained as part of Florida's imperiled species tracking and conservation efforts. Data source layer name: STATE_IMPERILED_SPECIES_DEC25.

Definition Query:

The map displays only records where the common name equals "GOPHER TORTOISE," filtering the broader imperiled species dataset to show this specific threatened species distribution.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a statewide scale appropriate for regional planning and species range visualization. This scale is suitable for understanding overall distribution patterns rather than site-specific habitat details.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087), a projected coordinate system optimized for statewide mapping in Florida with equal-area properties.

Time Period of Content:

The species range data reflects information from 2013 ISMP and SAP documents with updates applied as of December 2025.

Limitations:

The range boundary represents the general area where the species occurs and does not indicate population density, habitat quality variations, or specific occurrence locations within the range. Actual tortoise presence may vary within the depicted range based on local habitat conditions. The dataset is focused on Florida's imperiled species and may not represent the complete range of Gopher Tortoises occurring in other states beyond Florida's borders.

Map Coverage:

The map extent includes all of Florida, the southern portions of Georgia and Alabama, adjacent Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean waters, and extends south to include the Florida Keys and nearby marine areas including the Straits of Florida.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.