Species Reptiles & AmphibiansDesert Tortoise

Desert Tortoise

Gopherus agassizii

UncommonReptile & Amphibian
Illustration of Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

The Desert Tortoise is a slow-moving herbivore of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts. It spends most of its life in burrows to avoid temperature extremes. Threatened by habitat destruction and disease.

Habitat
Desert scrub, rocky slopes, and sandy washes in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts
Diet
Grasses, cacti, wildflowers, and desert shrubs
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Desert Tortoise

The best time to see a Desert Tortoise is March–May, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 4,140 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Desert Tortoise sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

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