The desert tortoise is one of most elusive inhabitants of the desert, spending up to 95% of its life underground.

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These reptiles are among the longest-lived of all land vertebrates, averaging more than a hundred years. They have specialized shovel-like front legs that help them to dig, and their back legs are strong.

Like other turtles, tortoises have a shell to protect from predation and other threats.

The Sulcata Is the 3rd Largest Tortoise Species.

. The desert tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii) is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. 4 to 9 meters).

It can be found in California (Mojave Desert), Mexico (Sonoran desert), Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

A tortoise weighing 8 pounds would weigh the same as half a bowling ball! The largest desert tortoise on record is 17 inches long and weighs 26 pounds.
It usually lives on the altitude of 1000 to 3000 feet, but it.