Desert Tortoise

Range:
S.E. California, Western Arizona, S. Nevada, S. Utah, Sonora Mexico

Habitat:
Sandy flats, and rocky hillsides

Size:
9-15 inch shell

Young:
2-13 eggs

Incubation:
80-120 days

Diet (wild):
Herbivore; grasses, cactus pads, and fruit

Diet (zoo):
Vegetables and fruit

Lifespan (wild):
50-80 years

Lifespan (captivity):
50-80 years

Status:
Threatened, protected by Arizona state law

Threats:
Humans and vehicles

Anatomy/Physiology:
Legs are heavy and elephant like. Fore legs have clawed toes for digging. They have no teeth, but bite off food with sharp edged and serrated jaws. Top shell (carapace) is domed; bottom shell (plastron) is flat in females, concave in adult males.

Social/Family units:
Solitary

Habits:
Digs burrows to seek shelter and warmth during the winter.

Defensive/Aggressive behavior:
Retracts head and legs into shell

Predators:
Coyotes

Locomotion:
Quadruped uses inner edge of fore feet. Can walk up to 7 miles per day

Activity:
Diurnal

Interesting story/facts:
Good eyesight and excellent sense of smell