How big do desert tortoise get?
The Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), has a high – domed shell and elephant-like legs and is easily distinguishable from its turtle cousins. They range in size from two inches up to 15 for a mature male.
How do you identify a desert tortoise?
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).
Are desert tortoises good pets?
In Arizona, California, and Nevada, legally obtained captive desert tortoises and their progeny may be kept as pets, provided that the custodian complies with the respective State’s Wildlife Board or Commission and Department/Division rules regarding desert tortoises (Berry and Duck. 2000).
Are there different types of desert tortoises?
Scientists have divided the desert tortoise into two types: Agassiz’s and Morafka’s desert tortoises, with a possible third type in northern Sinaloan and southern Sonora, Mexico. An isolated population of Agassiz’s desert tortoise occurs in the Black Mountains of northwestern Arizona.
Are desert tortoises illegal to own?
It is illegal to collect desert tortoises from the wild. Prior to protection as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1990, desert tortoises were collected as pets and individuals have been legally allowed to keep those desert tortoises as well as their progeny.
Do desert tortoises bite?
Do tortoises bite? No. They are not aggressive. If you are holding a tasty morsel, they may overreach and accidentally bite your finger.
What is the average lifespan of a desert tortoise?
Once they reach adulthood, desert tortoises can live between 30-50 years in the wild, and sometimes up to 80 years. Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction desert tortoises are struggling for survival.
What do you do if you find a desert tortoise in your yard?
Found a Desert Tortoise? If it is in an undeveloped area, leave it alone. If it is in a residential area, away from natural areas, it is likely an escaped captive tortoise, and the CTTC should be contacted to try to find its owner through the Department’s permitting program or to arrange for its adoption.
Is it OK to wake a sleeping tortoise?
Tortoises do not carry the body reserves to safely hibernate for much longer than 3 months — 4 at most. Thus, if your tortoise is still sound asleep after 4 months, it’s time to wake them up. Another reason to wake your Sleeping Beauty is if they become active during the winter months and then fall asleep again.