Tortuga del Bolson

Description:

The Bolson Tortoise is the largest North American tortoise species. It was discovered as recently as 1959. The Bolson Tortoise is a terrestrial tortoise with a high-domed brownish carapace. The front legs have heavy claws and are flattened for digging. The back legs are stumpy. Males are slightly larger than females. Male tortoises have a concave plastron, while females have a flat plastron. The scutes often have grooved concentric rings. The head is small and rounded. The tail is of short.

Habitat:

The Bolson Tortoise is found in the Chihuahuan Desert in north-central Mexico.

Notes:

The conservation status in the 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals is "vulnerable". A la Tortuga Mexicana también se le llama “Tortuga Mexicana”, “Tortuga Llanera” y “Tortuga de Mapimí”. En inglés se le conoce por “Mexican Gopher Tortoise”.