Reproduction of the tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus, in northeastern Florida

We collected reproductive data on gopher tortoises(Gopherus polyphemus) in Duval County, Florida, from 1990 through 1993. We recorded male head-bobbing and mounting behavior most frequently in September. Of the 25 nests we located, 21 were in burrow aprons and four were found elsewhere by chance. Mean depth to the top of the uppermost egg was 12.6 cm, and mean distance from the burrow mouth was 40.8 cm. Mean clutch size was 5.04. Hatchlings emerged from nests from late August through early October, with a mean pre-emergence period of 105 days. Hatching success of protected eggs was 82.3%.