Desert Tortoise

Gopherus agassizii

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The desert tortoise is a timid reptile that lives in sandy deserts (the Mojave and Sonoran) of southwestern North America. It can live from 5 to ! years. It is listed as a threatened species. Behavior" The desert tortoise is most active durin# the day (diurnal) or the mornin# and evenin# (crepuscular)$ dependin# on the temperature. This tortoise spends most of its life under#round. It %urrows under the sand to protect itself from e&treme desert temperatures$ which ran#e from '( )* (+ ),) down to well %elow free-in#. Adults can survive for a%out a year without water. They produce a variety of sounds$ includin# hisses and #runts. .hen in dan#er$ tortoises can withdraw their head$ le#s$ and tail into the shell. Anatomy" The desert tortoise has a hard upper shell (the carapace) which is a%out / to '5 inches (0121! cm) lon#. The flattened fore lim%s are armored$ muscular and used for %urrowin#. The rear lim%s are column2li3e. They have a #ular horn that e&tends from the front of the plastron (lower shell). .hen males fi#ht other males$ they use the #ular horn to overturn an opponent. The tail is very short. Diet" The desert tortoise is an her%ivore (plant eater). It eats #rasses$ her%s$ and a wide variety of desert plants. Reproduction" The female lays ' to 0 hard2shelled white e##s in each clutch. The e##s are laid in a shallow pit that she di#s with her hind le#s. She covers the e##s with sand$ then a%andons them. The temperature determines whether the %a%ies will %e male or female. ,ool temperatures (4/2!4)*) result in male hatchlin#s5 warm temperatures (!!2 /')*) result in female hatchlin#s.