A group of tortoises is known as a creep. The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), is a 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. The desert tortoise is an herbivore that may attain a length of 9 to 15 inches in upper shell (carapace) length. Sulcata tortoises are large reptiles, also commonly referred to as the âAfrican spurred tortoise.âThese creatures are the third largest species of tortoise in the world, behind the Galapagos tortoise and Albrada giant tortoise. Fun Facts: The shell is high domed with prominent growth lines on shields of both the upper and lower shell sections. Desert tortoises are inactive most of the year. Tortoises exhibit sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females are distinctly different from each other in terms of appearance. Basic Desert Tortoise Facts. The top is brown or horn-colored; the bottom is yellowed. Desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) have a high domed shell, carapace (top of shell) length of 9 to 15 inches, elephantine or "columnar" legs that are heavily scaled in the front.A desert tortoise can't be mistaken for anything else native to its range (introduced tortoise species complicate this). Meet The Mojave Desert Tortoise. Gopherus morafkai - found east of the Colorado River in Arizona and Mexico (Mexico states Sonora and Sinaloa). It is primarily an herbivore. Identifying Features . The lifespan of a tortoise ranges from 90 to 250 years. 10 facts about the desert tortoise If you startle a wild desert tortoise, it could âvoidâ or empty its bladder, leading to dehydration and possibly death. The desert tortoise lives in deserts of the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Several factors conspired to diminish the population of the desert tortoise. The Mojave desert tortoise is a slow-moving reptile found in deserts and other dry regions in the southwestern United States. Desert Tortoise Gopherus agassizii. What do desert tortoises eat? The desert tortoise is a threatened species throughout much of its range which includes both the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. A desert tortoise spends 95 percent of its life in a burrow. Its status is "threatened," just one notch below "endangered." Females can give birth for up to 15 years after initial mating with the male. The tortoise is able to live where ground temperatures may exceed 140 degrees F because of its ability to dig underground burrows and to escape the heat. Other animals and geographic locations also bear his name. This tortoise was named to honor Louis Agassiz, a Swiss scientist (1807-1873). Other Facts. G. agassizii is distributed in western Arizona, southeastern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. Sulcatas can grow to be well over 230 lbs., and live as long as 70 years! Most tortoises hibernate in the winter. Desert Tortoise Species. Desert tortoise behavior and facts Desert tortoises Hibernation: As the species make them buried in the winter season so therefore you have to make sure the burrowing substrate is enough and in optimal condition so that they can easily bury themselves for a peaceful sleep. Desert Tortoises are approximately 10 to 14 inches long (25 to 36 centimeters). Gopherus agassizii - found in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Arguably the most-studied animal in the park, the tortoise was placed on both the California and Federal Endangered Species Lists in 1989 and 1990, respectively. A female desert tortoise can retain sperm and lay fertile eggs for up to 15 years after mating only one time with a male. Recently the desert tortoise was split into 2 separate species.The Agassiz's desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizi) lives in the Mojave deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona west of the Colorado river. Tortoises hide in their shells when theyâre startled. 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