desert tortoise

noun

: a large burrowing land tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) of arid regions of the southwestern U.S. and adjacent Mexico

Examples of desert tortoise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To protect the desert tortoise, a federal judge has closed more than 2,200 miles of California’s Western Mojave Desert to off-road vehicles. — Shannon Welch, Oc Register, 12 July 2026

Environmental groups said the plan threatens springs and local wildlife, since six pumps would need to be built in desert tortoise habitats. — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Luckily, my desert tortoise named Dotty was safely snoozing in my backyard. — Alina Hartounian, NPR, 18 May 2026

Because of loss, degradation and fragmentation of habitats, the Mojave desert tortoise remains an endangered species in California, federal wildlife officials say. — Sarah Linn, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for desert tortoise

• abortus
• fortis
• mortis