Goode’s Thornscrub Tortoise

STATUS

Ongoing / Partner Program

LAND MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PROTECTED AREA

1,000 acres

Region

Mexico

Protected Species

Goode's Thornscrub Tortoise

Gopherus evgoodei

Vulnerable

Mexican Mud Turtle

Kinosternon integrum

Least Concern

Western Mexican Wood Turtle

Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima rogerbarbouri

About the Program

The Goode's thornscrub tortoise, also known as the Sinaloan thornscrub tortoise, Sinaloan desert tortoise or Goode's desert tortoise, is a species of tortoise that is native to the Sinaloan desert region. First described in 2016, Gopherus evgoodei inhabits Tropical Deciduous Forest and Sinaloan Desert scrub biomes in Mexico.

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Fundraising Goal: $50,000

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Major threats

This ecosystem is threatened by climate change and wildfires and habitat destruction. The tortoise population in the preserve is healthy but its habitat range is small. Some other threats include introduced diseases, pets or invasive species.

Taking morphometrics data on a Goode’s Thornscrub Tortoise (Gopherus evgoodei)

The dry forest of Alamos

Team doing fieldwork to monitor tortoise’s population

How we protect the species

The Turtle Conservancy secured approximately 1,000 acres of Tropical Deciduous Forest in Southern Sonora, Mexico, for the protection of this newly described species, creating the San Pablo Nature Preserve. The property targeted for this land acquisition has been identified for its excellent tortoise habitat, and for its ideal location adjoining a nature reserve, the Monte Mojino Preserve (17,960 acres). The preserve is notably crossed by the Cuchujaqui river, inhabited by Mud Turtles.

This project will not only contribute to the survival of a unique tortoise but also the rich biodiversity associated with this ecosystem. This protected area will safeguard the globally endangered Tropical Deciduous Forest ecosystem supporting 36 families of tropical trees, 48 species of orchids, the highest diversity of birds in Sonora, 5 species of wild cats, and 79 species of amphibians and reptiles. The entire area will be owned and managed by Nature and Culture International, the organization that currently manages the Reserva Monte Mojino.

[01]

Forest inhabited by Goode’s Thornscrub Tortoise (Gopherus evgoodei)

[02]

Team doing fieldwork

[03]

A colorful Painted Wood Turtle

[04]

Painted Wood Turtle (Rhinoclemmys pulcherimma rogerbarbouri)

[05]

The team radio tracking turtles

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Portrait of a Mud turtle (Kinosternon integrum)

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Plastron of a Mud turtle (Kinosternon integrum)

[08]

Russ Mittermeier, Ander Rhodin and Peter Paul Van Dijk holding a Mexican Mud Turtle (Kinosternon integrum)

[09]

Beaded lizard (Heloderma exasperatum)

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Semi-open habitat is very appreciated by tortoises

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Mud turtle (Kinosternon integrum) investigating its habitat

[12]

Tortoise habitat in Monte Mojino preserve

Management of the preserve includes replanting of native species of Palms, training local staff to protect wildlife, outreach with local population and global research to understand the ecology of the species and the population dynamics of trees and plants of the deciduous forest.

Partners