Do desert tortoises hibernate in summer?
Desert tortoises have lifestyles and body parts adapted to life in the desert. They hibernate to avoid cold winter conditions, and they estivate (similar to hibernation, but done just during the hottest part of the year) during the summer, to avoid hot summer conditions.
How does the desert tortoise survive in the heat?
Desert tortoise are able to burrow to escape heat. They can store water in their bladder, and are able to tolerate high levels of urea in their blood to keep from losing moisture through excess urinating. They can go for long periods of time without food or water.
How can you tell a desert tortoise age?
Count each thicker ring (which develops during the tortoise’s main annual growth period) and the thinner ring beside it (which develops during the annual slow growth period) as a single ring. So, if you count 20 of these ring pairs, you might estimate the tortoise is 20 years old.
How long does a desert tortoise live in the wild?
Desert tortoises may live 50 or more years in the wild and even longer in captivity. Their diet consists primarily of wildflowers, grasses, and cacti.
Where did the Mojave Desert Tortoise come from?
Tortoises have lived in the area that is now the Mojave Desert for millions of years, even before it was a desert. The Mojave desert tortoise occurs north and west of the Colorado River in California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah.
How long does it take for a desert tortoise to lay an egg?
Desert Tortoise Eggs The gestation period of the desert tortoise is 10-12 months after which the females lay eggs. The clutch size is about 4-8. The young tortoises are born after an incubation period of around 90-120 days.
How tall do desert tortoise hatchlings get to be?
The desert tortoise is the largest terrestrial turtle in the United States. Size (Length): The height of these tortoises is around 14 inches. The hatchlings (babies) are no more than 2 to 2½ inches in length. Height: They stand 4 to 6 inches from the ground. Carapace (upper shell): They have a distinct high-domed, roundish carapace.
How long do desert tortoises live in the desert?
Contact the California Turtle and Tortoise Club if you need to find a new home for a tortoise. Most chapters of CTTC have numerous desert tortoises needing new homes, so please do not take them from the desert . Desert tortoises are known to live as long as 60-80 years, and may live even longer.
When does a tortoise go into hibernation in the desert?
Usually by late October as the days become cooler, the tortoise will eat less, bask less, and appear sluggish. A suitable hibernation place may have to be provided. Some tortoise owners use a dog house insulated with a thick layer of dry soil, leaves, or shredded newspaper.
Is it illegal to keep a desert tortoise in Arizona?
By Arizona wildlife regulation, babies tortoises must be given away by 24 months of age unless you have received specific permission to keep them longer. Starting in 2016, breeding desert tortoises is illegal in Arizona. We recommend desert tortoises be housed outdoors whenever possible.
Tortoises have lived in the area that is now the Mojave Desert for millions of years, even before it was a desert. The Mojave desert tortoise occurs north and west of the Colorado River in California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah.
