Desert tortoise
A species of Gopher tortoises, Also known as Agassiz’s desert tortoise Scientific name : Gopherus agassizii Genus : Gopher tortoises
Desert tortoise, A species of Gopher tortoises
Also known as:
Agassiz’s desert tortoise
Scientific name: Gopherus agassizii
Genus: Gopher tortoises
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Pierre Fidenci , used under CC-BY-SA-2.5 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii and Gopherus morafkai ) are two species of tortoise native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico and the Sinaloan thornscrub of northwestern Mexico. G. agassizii is distributed in western Arizona, southeastern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. The specific name agassizii is in honor of Swiss-American zoologist Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz. Recently, on
General Info
Lifespan
30-80 years
Diet
Desert tortoise is a mainly herbivorous species, deriving nourishment chiefly from a variety of desert plants. It savors grasses, cacti, and succulents, particularly prone to consuming flowers, new growth, and fruit when seasonally available. Desert tortoise also occasionally nibbles on carrion or invertebrates to supplement its diet.
Appearance
Desert tortoise has a stumpy cylindrical body and a domed shell, with adult sizes reaching up to 2 feet long. It possesses wrinkled, leathery skin covered in a thick layer of scales, mainly seen in shades of tan or brown. A growth of sturdy, elephantine legs and a short tail are also present. Males tend to be slightly larger than females with a slightly concave plastron, while the females have a smoother one. No distinctive markings or color variations exist between individuals.
Behavior
Desert tortoise exhibits marked solitary, territorial behavior, spending the majority of the day within its subterranean burrow to regulate its body temperature. It exhibits crepuscular feeding behavior, foraging for food around sunrise and sunset. Due to prolonged dormancy during chillier periods, it is not classified as truly hibernating.
Population
Decreasing
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Testudines Family
Tortoises Genus
Gopher tortoises Species
Desert tortoise 
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