Agassiz’s Desert Tortoises

May 4, 2016

From the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS):

Don’t Mess With Mama! Not all turtles drop their eggs and trundle away. USGS researchers studying Agassiz’s desert tortoises at a wind farm in the Sonoran Desert discovered two tortoise mamas who protected their nests from predators for several days after laying eggs under the sand at the entrance to their burrow. The mamas sat over the nest, often turned sideways to block the burrow’s entrance from intruders, used their noses to push predators away (yes, including researchers!), and even tried to collapse the burrow over the nest when disturbance continued. Parental care like this is more widespread in turtles than most people think. Turtles can be good mothers too! For more about our research on renewable energy and desert tortoises, visithttp://bit.ly/1rsZKLT. To read the article about tortoises guarding their nests, visthttp://bit.ly/1TiyuWK #MothersDay

Photo: A female Agassiz's desert tortoise at Joshua Tree National Park lounges in the entrance of her burrow, wearing a USGS radio. Courtesy Shellie Puffer, USGS

#Tortois #Reptile