Object Status:
Unlocated
Accession Date:
1818
Primary Source Reference:
Thomas Say, "On the Fresh Water and Land Tortoises of the United States," Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. 4, part 2 (1825): 203-219, esp. 207-208 / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/24655325
Additional Source Text:
"It is altogether limited to the southern states, and more particularly Georgia, and the Floridas. . . . On the bank of the river St. John, Mr. T. Peale and myself dug about ten feet, guided by one of their burrows, before we arrived at its termination and secured the inhabitant. . . . Good specimens are in the Philadelphia Museum, one of which is living" (p. 208).
Notes:
The 1817-1818 Florida Expedition was the first major privately funded collecting endeavor of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. The expedition was financed and organized by the newly elected president, William Maclure, and included an Academy founder and Curator, Thomas Say; Vice President George Ord; and recently elected member Titian Ramsay Peale. See Thomas Peter Bennett, "The 1817 Florida Expedition of the Academy of Natural Sciences," Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 152 (Oct. 14, 2002): 1-21.
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Gopher tortoise
Current Scientific Name
Gopherus polyphemus
