Sonoran Desert Tortoise
Gopherus morafkai
This desert tortoise lives in rocky washes, bajadas, grasslands, and desert scrub of the Sonoran region, where it avoids heat by sheltering in burrows and rock crevices. It feeds mostly on grasses, wildflowers, cactus fruits, and other desert plants, storing water efficiently for long dry periods. When threatened, it retracts its head and limbs into its high-domed shell and may hiss as air is forced from the lungs. A notable adaptation is its long seasonal dormancy pattern, with activity often concentrated around summer rains.
- Type
- Shell / Burrow
- Conservation status
- VU
Growth chain
- Sonoran Desert Tortoise Hatchling
- ?
- Sonoran Desert Tortoise