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
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
The area is home to the dwindling desert tortoise and an endangered plant called the Lane Mountain milk-vetch.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
Facts about the desert tortoise, prickly pear cacti and more lie waiting amid pages of arguments on ballot propositions.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 7 Oct. 2024
Federal regulators put the road on hold for environmental review — the area is home to the endangered desert tortoise — prompting state officials to draw lot lines for housing developments in Zone 6.
—Axios Salt Lake City, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desert tortoise 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2024
The area is home to the dwindling desert tortoise and an endangered plant called the Lane Mountain milk-vetch.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024
Facts about the desert tortoise, prickly pear cacti and more lie waiting amid pages of arguments on ballot propositions.
—Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 7 Oct. 2024
Federal regulators put the road on hold for environmental review — the area is home to the endangered desert tortoise — prompting state officials to draw lot lines for housing developments in Zone 6.
—Axios Salt Lake City, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desert tortoise
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 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share