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Class:
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Reptilia
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Order:
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Testudines
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Family:
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Testudinidae
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Genus:
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Gopherus
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Species:
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agassizii
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Life span:
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50 – 80 years
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Egg Gestation:
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Females lay 1 – 3 clutches of 2 – 15 eggs between May and June.
Incubation is 90 – 135 days |
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Number of young at birth:
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4 – 8
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Age of maturity:
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15 – 20 years
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Size:
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The upper shell ranges between 6 – 14 in. long
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Weight:
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24 – 51 lb
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Size at birth:
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2 in.
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| Range: | Southwestern United States to Northwestern Mexico |
| Habitat: | Desert |
| Diet: | Wild grass, flowers, cactus pads and fruit. |
Fun Facts:
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The shell is high domed with prominent growth lines on shields of both the upper and lower shell sections. The top is brown or horn-colored; the bottom is yellowed.
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Females can give birth for up to 15 years after initial mating with the male.
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Desert tortoises are inactive most of the year.
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They spend much of their life in burrows and rock shelters in order to regulate body temperature and reduce water loss.
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Rough scales on the front legs along with high domed shell make the desert tortoise practically invulnerable.
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Vulnerable species due to human related changes to the environment.
