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The Desert Tortoise is an herbivore that may attain a length of 9 to 15 inches in upper shell (carapace) length. The tortoise is able to live where ground temperatures may exceed 140 degrees F, because of its ability to dig underground burrows and escape the heat. At least 95% of its life is spent in burrows. There, it is also protected from freezing while dormant, November through February or March.
The Sonoran Desert Tortoise is flat and pear-shaped, compared to the Western Mojave tortoise which is more of a butterball shape; they are usually active in spring. The Sonoran Desert tortoise is more active in summer and seeks shade under large rocks and boulders. It is possible that northern and southern Desert Tortoises may one day be designated as different species or subspecies.
The presence of soil suitable for digging burrows is a limiting factor to Desert Tortoise distribution. Some of their burrows just extend beyond the shell of the tortoise inside. Others extend for several feet. A single tortoise may have a dozen or more burrows distributed over its home range. These burrows may be used by different tortoises at different times.
Vocalization
Desert Tortoises make hisses, pops and poink sounds, perhaps as fear and distress calls. Males to grunt when mating.
Horn
Both sexes have a gular horn -- an anterior extension of the plastron (lower shell). The horn is longer in males and often upturned. Males use these in fighting with other males, attempting to insert the horn under the anterior edge of the carapace and by twisting to the side, flip the other male on its back. The opponent attempts to stand as high as possible to prevent this from happening.
Feet
The tortoise's hind limbs differ markedly from the forelimbs. Whereas the hind limbs are elephantine, the forelimbs are flattened with well-developed muscle. They are used for digging burrows. The females use their hind limbs to dig their nests.
Behavior
Fighting may occur any time males encounter one another, and usually ends in the subordinate male running away from the other. Where there are cavities in partially consolidated gravels with room for several tortoises, males and females will share theses cover sites. The males may begin to fight upon emerging each day but the importance of adequate cover for protection against
extreme heat seems to be greater than the need to maintain dominance hierarchy.
To maximize the utilization of infrequent rainfall, tortoises dig catchment basins in the soil, remember where these are, and may be found waiting by them when rain appears imminent. Water that reaches the bladder is not lost to the system but can be drawn upon as needed.
Much of the tortoise’s water intake comes from moisture in the grasses and wildflowers they consume in the spring. During very dry times they may give off waste as a white paste rather than a watery urine. Adult tortoises may survive a year or more without access to water.
Habitat
Desert tortoises inhabit semi-arid grasslands, gravelly desert washes, canyon bottoms and rocky hillsides below 3,530 ft.
Tortoises north and west of the Colorado River inhabit valleys and on alluvial fans. In the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, however, the tortoises tend to live on steep, rocky hillside slopes in Palo Verde and Saguaro Cactus communities.
Food & Hunting
Diet composition varies throughout the tortoise's range. If winter rainfall has been sufficient to result in germination of annuals, these are used heavily when the tortoises
emerge from winter torpor (brumation). Other herbs, grasses, some shrubs and the new growth of cacti and their flowers comprise a major portion of the diet. If there is no summer rain, tortoises will utilize dry forage.
Breeding
Courting and copulation may occur any time that tortoises are above ground; however, there seems to be more of this behavior in late summer and early fall when the testosterone levels peak in males. Females store sperm and egg laying occurs in May, June and July.
The number of eggs varies. Female size seems to be one factor. A mature female might lay 4-8 white, hard-shelled eggs in a clutch and produce 2, sometimes 3 clutches in a season. Hatchlings from only a few eggs out of every hundred actually make it to adulthood.
Nests are often dug near the burrow opening early in the season, and farther inside late in the season. Some nests are dug away from the burrow, usually under a shrub. After laying, the female leaves the nest and the soil temperatures support growth of the embryos. Incubation periods of 90 to 120 days are typical. Data from experiments using controlled incubation temperatures show
that cooler temperatures, 79-87 degrees F. produce all males; at 88-91 degrees F. all females.
Vital Stats
Weight: 8-15 lbs.
Length (carapace): 9-15"
Height: 4- 6"
Sexual Maturity: 15-20 years
Mating Season: Aug.-Oct.
Incubation Period: 90-120 days
No. Of Eggs: 4-8
Birth Interval: 2-3/year
Lifespan: 80-100 years
Typical diet: Herbs, grasses,
wildflowers
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Cactus Facts
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I have a Sulcata. Had him 6 years now. This is some great information on your blog. I had no idea they used their gular horn's in battle! Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!