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Desert Tortoise
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Gopherus agassizi
CLASS: Reptilia
ORDER: Chelonia
FAMILY: Testudinidae
GENUS: Gopherus
SPECIES: Agassizi
LIFESPAN: 100 years
COLOR/PATTERN: This tortoise may be distinguished from other members of its genus by its narrower head and large hind foot. Males tend to be larger than females with a longer tail. There is a projection on the plastron that makes an effective battering ram during territorial scuffles.
HABITAT: Arid and semi arid regions
RANGE: Southern Nevada, extreme southwestern part of Utah, southward through southern California and southwestern Arizona into southern Sonora, Mexico, Tiburon Island and the gulf of California. Always found in desert areas.
LENGTH: 12 inches
WEIGHT: 10 pounds
REPRODUCTION: Reach sexual maturity at 14 to 20 years of age, lay eggs in the sand.
INCUBATION: 118 days
CLUTCH: Average 4 to 7, white in color, brittle shells
DIET: Flowers, seedlings, leaves and fallen fruit
ACTIVE: Diurnal
STATUS: Endangered
NOTES:
- Desert tortoises migrate. A short two-way migration in which a group inhabits dens for the winter hibernation where they utilize fat for nutrition. They migrate to nearby ranges for summer where they use summer holes to avoid heat stroke, moving back to the dens for winter. The winter dens are 5 – 30 feet and are dug in gravel banks and are used fro community hibernation while the summer den is singly occupied. The distances covered are proportional to the power of locomotion. Unfortunately, many of these ancient migration routes are now crossed with highways and many tortoises are killed as a result.
- They are endangered due to collection for pets, military activities, livestock trampling, disease and habitat destruction. Habitat destruction is due to growing human populations and livestock grazing. Also, ravens have come into the area due to the presence of garbage dumps. Ravens not only pose a danger for young tortoises, but also contribute to a deadly upper respiratory disease that kills tortoises.
- Tortoise eggs are the favorite food for birds, snakes and fox, and even humans who sell eggs. Desert tortoises lay very few eggs and must be at least 14 years of age before they can lay eggs. If the eggs are lucky to hatch, the mortality rate for young tortoises is almost 99%.
- Tortoises cannot swim; notice the high domed shell and the broad hind feet.
- Tortoises like to bask in the sun.
- Tortoises have a beak like bird. The sharp edges of the beak help them cut through tough leaves and seeds.
- Tortoises are among the oldest living reptiles. They have been around for 400 million years.
- There are five toes on the forefoot, but only 4 on the hind foot. They have claws for digging.
- Speed ranges from 0.13 to 0.3 mph.
- Tortoises have a keen sense of smell.
Last Update:Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at 13:15:00
