Desert Tortoise
The Mojave desert tortoise, often simply known as the desert tortoise, is a species found in the Mojave Desert regions in the United States. The species spend a lot of time in burrows, pallets and rock shelters to adjust body temperature and control dehydration.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Sauropsida |
| Order | Testudines |
| Suborder | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily | Testudinoidea |
| Family | Testudinidae |
| Genus | Gopherus |
| Scientific Name | Gopherus agassizii |
| Other Names | Mohave desert tortoise, California desert tortoise |
| 10 to 14 in | |
| Weight | 0.02 to 5 kg |
| Color | Greenish-tan to dark brown shell |
| Distribution | Western Arizona, southeastern California, southwestern Utah, southern Nevada, Mexico |
| Habitat | Sandy flats, rocky foothills; found from sea level to an elevation of 3500 ft |
| Diet | Plant matter especially grasses, herbs, annual wildflowers, new growth of shrubs, cacti and their fruits and flowers |
| Hibernation Fact | Hibernate during winter months |
| Predators | Ravens, Gila monsters, badgers, roadrunners, kit foxes, coyotes, fire ants |
| Breeding Season | Spring, Autumn |
| Mode of Reproduction | Oviparous (egg laying) |
| Clutch Size | 4 to 8 eggs |
| Incubation Period | 90 – 135 days |
| Reproductive Age | 15 to 20 years of age |
| Average Lifespan | 50 to 80 years |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Vulnerable |
Desert Tortoise Pictures Gallery
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- Baby Desert Tortoise
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- Desert Tortoise Diet
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- Desert Tortoise Eating
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- Desert Tortoise Eggs
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- Desert Tortoise Food
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- Desert Tortoise Habitat
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- Desert Tortoise Images
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- Desert Tortoise Pet
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- Desert Tortoise Photos
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- Desert Tortoise Pictures
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- Desert Tortoise
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- Desert Tortoises
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- The Desert Tortoise
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- Tortoise Desert
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- Desert Tortoise Range
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- Pictures of Desert Tortoises
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- Desert Tortoise Care
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- Desert Tortoise Enclosure
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- Images of Desert Tortoise
Published on October 30th 2016 by staff under Tortoises. Article was last reviewed on 7th June 2019.
