What Is the Desert Tortoise? Get to Know This Desert Turtle Species
Family: Testudinidae Chinese name: Desert tortoise Scientific name: Gopherus agassizii Genus: Gopherus Diet: Feeds on grasses, flowers and cacti. Distribution: Southwestern United States, northwestern Mexico. Physical characteristics: Maximum carapace length 37 cm. Only 1 axillary scute; among all vertebral scutes, the 5th vertebral scute has the greatest width. Living habits: Inhabits
Family: Testudinidae
Chinese name: Desert tortoise
Scientific name: Gopherus agassizii
Genus: Gopherus
Diet: Feeds on grasses, flowers and cacti.
Distribution: Southwestern United States, northwestern Mexico.
Physical characteristics: Maximum carapace length 37 cm. Only 1 axillary scute; among all vertebral scutes, the 5th vertebral scute has the greatest width.
Living habits: Inhabits dry environments with cacti and thorny plants. It can dig burrows as deep as 10 m, which serve as its shelter. From May to July it lays 5-6 spherical or oval eggs. The incubation period is 90-120 days.