Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation |
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Desert Tortoise
(Xerobates agassizii)
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| DESERT TORTOISES range from Southeastern California, western Arizona and extreme southern Nevada and southwest Utah, and into Mexico through lowland Sonora. They like sandy flats and rocky hillsides. They are herbivores, meaning they eat grasses, cactus pads and fruit, and a wide variety of desert vegetation. They actively forage for food at dusk, dawn, and after it rains. To defend themselves, they retract their legs, head and tail into their shell, covering their head with front knees which are heavily scaled. Anatomy: their legs are heavy and elephant-like; hard-scaled forelegs with clawed toes are used for digging. They have no teeth, but bite off food with sharp-edged, serrated jaws. The top shell (carapace) is domed. The bottom shell (plastron) is flat in females, concave in males.Reproduction: Breeding occurs April-June and is preceded By male-to-male combat. One month later 2-13 spherical eggs are buried in sand. Young hatch after 80-120 days incubation by ambient temperature. Senses: They have good eyesight and an excellent sense of smell. Heat Regulation: Their primary source of heat is external. It burrows into the ground to escape extreme heat and cold. Movement: when walking, it extends its legs and lifts its shell up off the ground. It uses the inner edge of its forefeet, and is able to walk up to 7 miles in one day. Habits: digs burrows to hibernate each winter. Enemies: Coyotes, humans and the vehicles they drive. |
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