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1 March 2007 OSTEOPHAGY BY THE DESERT TORTOISE (GOPHERUS AGASSIZII)
Andrew D. Walde, David K. Delaney, Meagan L. Harless, Larry L. Pater
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Abstract

The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) has undergone significant declines in the past several decades. Thus, many carcasses are present across the desert landscape. Here we report on osteophagy by the desert tortoise, specifically the consumption of bones from deceased desert tortoises. Desert tortoises seem to have an appetite for calcium-rich substances. To our knowledge, this is the first documentation of desert tortoises consuming conspecific skeletal remains.

Andrew D. Walde, David K. Delaney, Meagan L. Harless, and Larry L. Pater "OSTEOPHAGY BY THE DESERT TORTOISE (GOPHERUS AGASSIZII)," The Southwestern Naturalist 52(1), 147-149, (1 March 2007). https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909(2007)52[147:OBTDTG]2.0.CO;2
Received: 28 April 2006; Accepted: 1 July 2006; Published: 1 March 2007
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