Desert Tortoise

Gopherus agassizii

Range: Mojave and Sonoran deserts in the

southwestern United States

Habitat: Sandy, gravel areas with available shade

and desert vegetation

Diet: Herbivore: cacti, grasses, wildflowers, and

other available vegetation. Rarely drinks water,
getting most of the moisture they need from their
food.

Lifespan: 50 to 80 years in the wild, can be longer in captivity

Description: Desert tortoises can weigh between 8 and 20 pounds and have a relatively
high-domed shell. Both the shell and the skin are a brownish, olive green. The plastron has a
protrusion sticking out from the front (gular horn) that is larger in males than in females.
Desert tortoises have large, elephant-like feet that are perfect for walking over sand and
gravely conditions. The scales on the front limbs are very large and stick out away from the
legs. The thick scales and shell add an important layer of protection from the elements and
predators.

Breeding: Females do not reach mature breeding age until they are between 15-20 years of
age. When competing for a female, males will often fight and try to flip each other over using
their long shell protrusion (gular horn). Females lay a clutch of 1-14 eggs. Young tortoises are
independent once they hatch.

Behavior/Adaptations: Desert tortoises live in an extremely harsh climate and are able to
survive ground temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. They do this by digging burrows
with their long claws to protect themselves from the heat and the cold. They spend 95% of
their life underground. To deal with a lack of water during most of the year, desert tortoises
are able to store excess water in their large bladders. They also dig holes that fill with water
during heavy rainfall and drink from the puddle to replenish water supplies. They sometimes
prefer to drink water through their nose instead of their mouth.

Predators: Bobcats, coyotes, foxes, badgers, ravens, humans

Conservation: Federally listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.
The desert tortoise population has decreased by 90% since the 1950’s. Desert tortoises are
slow to mature and reproduce, and their already low numbers are shrinking rapidly because
of interactions with humans. Tortoises are frequently run over by cars, shot, removed from
the wild, or crushed in their burrows by off road vehicles.

The Zoo’s Desert Tortoise: Ozzie is a male desert tortoise and hatched in 1981. He weighs
about 20 pounds!

LAKE SUPERIOR ZOO • 7210 Fremont Street • Duluth, MN 55807 • www.LSZooDuluth.org

Interesting Facts:
• Desert tortoises are considered a keystone species in desert ecosystems because their
burrows provide homes for other wildlife and are important seed dispersers.
• Females can store sperm and lay fertile eggs for up to 15 years after mating a single
time with a male.
• A desert tortoise can store up to 40% of its body weight in water in its bladder, which
is reabsorbed by its body as necessary.
• Desert tortoises can go without water for a year!

Empathy Stories and Messages

Does Ozzie move fast or slow? Very slowly! Who has ever run a mile? How long did it
take you? It would take Ozzie 5 hours, or almost a whole school day, to walk the same
distance! It takes Ozzie 30 seconds to walk just 10 feet. Let’s see if you can walk as
slowly as Ozzie.
Desert tortoises are very important because they are the gardeners and home builders
of the American Southwestern deserts. They eat fruits and when they go to the
bathroom, it’s like fertilizer that helps the seeds grow. They are also responsible for
digging most of the burrows in the desert that other animals use for shelter. Desert
tortoises will even dig holes that fill with water when it rains so they and other animals
have a place to drink fresh rain water!

Lake Superior Zoo Conservation Message

Story (ages 6 and up): The desert tortoise is listed as an endangered species. Part of the
reason it’s endangered is because people were taking them from the wild and keeping them as
pets. After a few years people wouldn’t want the tortoise as a pet and would release it back
into the wild. The tortoises didn’t know how to take care of themselves in the wild and they
would die.

What you can do: We can help animals by never taking a wild animal and keeping it as a
pet. When we are outside, we can make sure we are doing our part to conserve nature by
staying on paths and avoiding taking anything out of nature.

Story (ages 6 and up): There is some water in the desert, but most of it is found under the
ground and plants that use this water have very deep roots. Today, there are so many people
living in the desert that all of the ground water is being used up faster than it is replenished
by rainwater. If there is less water for the plants, than there is less food for the desert
tortoises.

What you can do: By conserving water in Minnesota and Wisconsin we might not be
directly helping the desert tortoise, but we will be helping to keep the water levels of our lakes
and rivers high so that our native turtles have plenty of water to swim in. Turn off water while
brushing teeth, take shorter showers, make sure the dishwasher is full before running it, and
tell adults about any leaks in pipes, faucets, or toilets.

LAKE SUPERIOR ZOO • 7210 Fremont Street • Duluth, MN 55807 • www.LSZooDuluth.org

Information taken from the following sources:
https://www.fws.gov/nevada/desert_tortoise/dt/dt_life.html
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/desert_tortoise.php
http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/desert-tortoise

LAKE SUPERIOR ZOO • 7210 Fremont Street • Duluth, MN 55807 • www.LSZooDuluth.org