Desert Tortoise

Continuing with my "5" Star Photos we come to the Desert Tortoise. 

Desert Tortoises can live 30 to 50 years. They grow slowly and generally have low reproductive rates. They typically get to about 15 pounds as an adult. They spend most of time in burrows or rock shelters to regulate body temperature and reduce water loss. They are most active after seasonal rains and are inactive during most of the year. This inactivity helps reducing water loss during hot periods, whereas winter hibernation facilitates survival during freezing temperatures and low food availability. Desert tortoises can tolerate water, salt, and energy imbalances on a daily basis, which increases their lifespan. The front limbs have sharp, claw-like scales and are flattened for digging. Back legs are skinnier and very long to help them move more quickly when in danger.

Desert Tortoises are considered "Threatened" with a "Vulnerable" classification.  It is unlawful to disturb, collect, or harm a Desert Tortoise. Emptying the bladder is one of defense mechanisms of this tortoise. This can leave the tortoise in a very vulnerable condition in dry areas, and they should not be alarmed, handled or picked up in the wild unless they are in imminent danger. If they must be handled, and their bladder is emptied, then water should be provided to restore the fluid in their body.

I happen to like this photo, but it also got a bump in rating due to it's protective status. This particular one was on the road just outside our property. I felt that it might get run over so transferred it to the back of the property. I also left water and a cut up apple for it to eat. When I came back to that spot about 30 minutes later he had disappeared. However, most of the apple was eaten and he had obviously had some water as well.

Desert Tortoise

The Desert Tortoise

Christine called me a couple of days ago as she was pulling into our driveway. "Come quickly," she said, "and bring your camera." There at the end of the driveway was a Desert Tortoise. After a photo or two, I started thinking that I didn't like where he was. Seemed too close to the road and thus too dangerous for him to stay there. The Desert Tortoise is protected so I really did not want to leave him there. I carefully picked him up and took him back behind the office. I didn't want him to feel frightened, so gave him some water. Christine put a couple of cut up apples about three feet in from of him, and he wasted no time chewing them up. Once he started eating, we decided to leave him alone. I checked about 10 minutes later, the apples were gone and so was the Tortoise. Although we have seen Desert Tortoises at Saguaro National Park and a few other places, this was a first for us at The Azure Gate.  

The Desert Tortoise is found in the Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico. It can attain a length of about 14 inches, which this particular one was. The front limbs have sharp, claw-like scales and are flattened for digging. Back legs are skinnier and very long. The tortoise is able to live where ground temperature may exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit because of its ability to dig underground burrows and escape the heat. At least 95% of its life is spent in burrows. The burrows also protected him from freezing during the winter. The desert tortoise is a herbivore. Grasses form the bulk of its diet, but it also eats wildflowers, cacti, and fruit. They come out during and after our monsoons to drink from pools left behind. They have a huge bladder that retains water. In this way they can go for nearly a year without drinking. 

The Desert Tortoise reaches sexual maturity at about 15 years. Average life expectancy is 50 to 80 years.

Desert Tortoise

Desert Tortoise Close-up