This is a featured photo of the month. I will try and update this monthly with a favorite photo.
Common Name: Desert Tortoise
Scientific Name: Gopherus agassizii
Date Taken: April 14, 2026
Location: Mojave Desert, California
Photographer: Mark Wilson
Native to the arid deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, they inhabit rocky foothills, washes, and desert scrublands. Adapted to extreme heat and scarce water, they spends much of their life in self-dug burrows that provide protection from temperature extremes and predators. Primarily herbivorous, they feed on grasses, wildflowers, cacti, and other desert vegetation, obtaining much of their moisture from their food. They can store water in their bladder for extended periods, allowing them to survive long droughts. Because of habitat loss, disease, predation by ravens, and other human-related impacts, the species has experienced significant population declines and is considered a conservation concern throughout much of its range.
