Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Question: What is the state’s official reptile?

Answer: The Gopher Tortoise. Georgia designated the endangered gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) as the official state reptile in 1989. The gopher tortoise is one of the oldest living species native to Georgia. It digs burrows up to 40 feet wide and 10 feet deep providing year-round shelter from predators and inclement weather for more than three dozen other animal species.