John M. Legler

“ Femoral spurs are developed to varying degrees in the other species of Gopherus; they are usually lacking in individuals of small to medium size. In large specimens of agassizii and polyphemus that I have examined, there is but one enlarged spur, although several pointed osteodermal scales may be present on the back of the thigh. ”

“ It is indeed remarkable that a population of large tortoises in northern Mexico has so long escaped the notice of naturalists. Also remarkable is the fact that the late Dr. Leonhard Stejneger, in view of his intense interest in North American chelonians and his familiarity with the genus Gopherus, did not remark on the specimens from Durango when he saw them ”

“ The fact that representatives of the genus do not attain a larger size in the United States may be due to the decimation of natural populations by man for food and souvenirs.
There have been several indications that a large species of tortoise existed in north-central Mexico. The Chihuahuan specimens reported by Duges (248 and 202 millimeters long, respectively) rank in size with the smaller paratypes of G. flavomarginatus; Duges stated, however, that the species was said to attain a length of one meter but that he thought such large size surely to apply to another species. ”