Age-Size Relationships of Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizi) in Southern Nevada
Turner FB, Medica PA, Bury RB. 1987. Age-Size Relationships of Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizi) in Southern Nevada. Copeia. 1987(4):974-979
We assigned ages of 1-4 yr to 15 desert tortoises originally marked in Rock Valley, Nevada, between 1963 and 1965, at which time their plastron lengths ranged from 47-74 mm. Continued measurements of these tortoises enabled us to estimate mean body sizes of tortoises from 1-26 yr of age. Growth of males and females over this period did not differ significantly. Tortoises grew to plastron lengths of 100 mm in 6-7 yr, to 130 mm in 10-11 yr, to around 150 mm in 13-14 yr and were 215 mm long at estimated ages of 24 yr. Four females 23-24 yr old were X-rayed in 1985; three had clutches of 4-5 eggs. If Rock Valley female tortoises are sexually mature at the same body size as those in eastern San Bernardino County, California, sexual maturity is attained at an age of 17-20 yr.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Turner, Frederick; Medica, Philip; Bury, R.
- Units
- MOJA
- Keywords
- Gopherus agassizii (Desert Tortoise), Mojave Desert, Radiography, Reptilia (Reptiles), Taxa Links To References, Testudines, Testudinidae (Tortoises)