Gopherus morafkai Sonoran Desert Tortoise
Also known as:
Morafka’s Desert Tortoise
Genetic analysis led to this species being split from Gopherus agassizii in 2011.
Pima County, ArizonaAugust 20, 2013
Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) Sonoran Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafkai)
All of the Sonoran Desert Tortoises that I've ever seen have been shown to me by my friend Roger Repp (Herp King of Southern Arizona, where the turtles are strong, the snakes are handsome, and the lizards are all above average). That includes one from 2000, which Roger found at night deep in a crevice and which I didn't even bother to try to photograph. At that time it would have been considered Gopherus agassizii. These two are the only others I've seen. The first one was sensibly ensconced in a relatively cool crevice, but we were surprised to discover the second one wandering about on a hot dry August morning.
Printed references: