Wildlife Around Las Vegas, Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

Mojave Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)
Turtles Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas

Mojave Max, Sr., coming out of his muddy burrow	General Description: A turtle in the Mojave Desert with a moderately domed, brownish shell. This is the only "land turtle" in the desert around Las Vegas. Taxonomy: Tortoise Family (Testudinidae). Technical Description: A terrestrial "turtle." Carapace moderately domed, brownish; can exceed 14-inches long. Hind legs stumpy, round, and elephant-like. Front legs broadly flattened with leathery skin and large scales. Male with indented plastron; female with flat plastron. Desert tortoises drink water through their nose, and eat cactus from time to time.
Tortoise in Creosote-Bursage Flat habitat	Diet: Primarily eats annual forbs and grasses that germinate after winter rains. Also eats cactus and other low-growing plants. Drinks standing water when available. When food is unavailable, can stay in underground burrow for more than 6 months. Habitat: Most common in Mojave Desert Scrub habitat type, especially desert scrub and wash habitats dominated by creosote bush. Found in valleys and on bajadas and hills below 4,500 ft elevation. Less common in the lower-elevation Creosote-Bursage Flat habitat type. An important habitat requirement is the presence of annual wildflowers and native grasses that are eaten during spring.
Desert tortoise (© Bill Phifer 2006)	Range: Southeastern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. In western Arizona and western Mexico, they have a different species of tortoise: Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai), which formerly was considered the same species as Mojave Desert Tortoise. Breeding: Mate in the spring, lay 1-15 eggs per clutch during spring through mid-summer, hatchlings emerge in the fall shortly before going into hibernation. Similar Species: This is the only species of tortoise in Nevada. The Sonoran Desert Tortoise occurs across the Colorado River in Arizona.
Tortoise in burrow	Comments: Tortoises dig dome-shaped burrows, usually in the sides of washes or at the base of shrubs. If you look into burrows to try to find them, expect to also see creatures such as rattlesnakes that use the burrows. Tortoises can live longer than 50 years. Special Remarks: Tortoises west and north of the Colorado River are listed and protected as Federally Threatened under the Endangered Species Act; individuals may not be taken from the wild. Pet tortoises can be obtained from the Desert Tortoise Program.
	Desert Tortoises rarely bite, but they have quite a beak that they use to tear up plants for food.
	Desert Tortoises have spade-like front foot and leg
	Desert Tortoises have elephant-like (elephantine) hind foot
	Desert Tortoise males have a concave plastron; females have a flat plastron.
	Desert Tortoise males have chin glands that become enlarged (like this) during the breeding season. This is a good way to determine gender in tortoises without picking them up to feel the plastron.
	Desert Tortoise females have a short, little tail.
	Typical tortoise burrow: notice the dome-shaped roof (inward sloping walls), flat floor, and straight tunnel. Compare this shape with the shape of Kit Fox burrows, which have vertical sides and a tunnel that usually curves to the side. We can tell this big buck is a male from the chin glands without pulling him out of his burrow.
	Desert Tortoise male in burrow.
	Desert Tortoise going down a burrow.
	Desert Tortoise yearling about 2-inches long (notice the size of the tortoise relative to dry grass stems on the ground).

Desert Tortoise on Gold Butte Road - I couldn't stop in time	Yes, Desert Tortoise can climb the roadside berm
Desert Tortoise past the road	Desert Tortoise, resting in the shade after crossing the road
Tortoise at Tule Springs National Monument	Tortoise at Tule Springs National Monument
Tortoise scat at Tule Springs National Monument	Desert Tortoise habitat in southwest Gold Butte NM
Desert Tortoise burrow in southwest Gold Butte NM	Desert Tortoise scat in southwest Gold Butte NM
Desert Tortoise carcass with Feral Burro scat in Gold Butte NM	Desert Tortoise carcass with Feral Burro scat in Gold Butte NM
Desert Tortoise carcass with Feral Burro scat in Gold Butte NM	Desert tortoise run over on a lonely dirt road in Gold Butte NM
On a dirt road, tortoise looks like any other rock	Desert tortoise on dirt road in Gold Butte National Monument
Desert tortoise on dirt road in Gold Butte National Monument	Desert tortoise on dirt road in Gold Butte National Monument
Desert tortoise on dirt road in Gold Butte National Monument	Desert tortoise crossed dirt and this climbed cliff in Gold Butte NM






Desert Tortoise	You need to watch for rocks on dirt roads!

Desert Tortoise juvenile blends in with background	Desert Tortoise juvenile
Desert Tortoise juvenile	Desert Tortoise juvenile
Tortoises are hard to find, even when out in the open. Can you see this one?	Desert tortoise drinking water from a spring (more photos)
Desert tortoise sometime eat cactus (more photos)	That is a little girl-tail
Tortoise scat	Tortoise scat
Tortoise tracks	Tortoise tracks in dry mud

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 170922

Turtles Around Las Vegas

Wildlife Around Las Vegas

Glossary

Home

Google Ads