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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Climate & Environment Chuckwalla National Monument would protect swath of California desert and preserve a sacred land April 28, 2024 Besides its namesake, the Chuckwalla lizard, the area is home to bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, kangaroo rats, burrowing owls and jackrabbits. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2025 With its canyons, mountains and desert landscapes, the national monument serves as a habitat for a variety of animals, including desert bighorn sheep, Gila woodpeckers and Agassiz’s desert tortoises. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Jan. 2025 The monument’s name honors the robust Chuckwalla lizards native to the area, which also supports bighorn sheep, desert tortoises and other wildlife. Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 3 Jan. 2025 Their community sprang into action when Bo, their 8-pound pet desert tortoise, escaped his backyard enclosure. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for desert tortoise 

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of desert tortoise was in 1933

Dictionary Entries Near desert tortoise

Cite this Entry

“Desert tortoise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desert%20tortoise. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on desert tortoise

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!