Gopherus agassizii Facts
Gopherus agassizii
The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, and to the Sinaloan thornscrub of northwestern Mexico.
- Diet
- Grasses form the bulk of its diet, but it also eats herbs, annual wildflowers, and new growth of cacti, as well as their fruit and flowers.
- Lifespan
- Up to 62.8 years (maximum recorded longevity)
Gopherus agassizii Facts at a Glance
The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, and to the Sinaloan thornscrub of northwestern Mexico.
It belongs to the family Testudinidae in the order Testudines. This profile is designed as a concise starting point; the source names below document the review basis.
Gopherus agassizii Conservation Status
Gopherus agassizii is listed here as Critically Endangered. Protecting habitat, maintaining healthy prey or food sources, and reducing human pressure are important parts of conserving wild populations.
Quick facts
- Lifespan
- Up to 62.8 years (maximum recorded longevity)
Fun facts
- A male circles around the female, biting her shell in the process.
- In a laboratory experiment, temperature influenced hatching rates and hatchling sex.
- The male may make grunting noises once atop a female, and may move his front legs up and down in a constant motion, as if playing a drum.
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Sources and image credit
Animal facts are reviewed against the references below. The photograph remains available under the stated license.