One of our park biologists recorded some interesting desert tortoise behavior last month! These male tortoises are fighting for dominance using something called a gular horn. This horn extends from the bottom shell, or plastron, underneath the head and neck. Both sexes have gular horns, but in males, they are usually larger and upturned. The males use the horn to try to hook the opponents shell, flipping them on their back. Both tortoises attempt to stand as tall as possible to prevent this from

Dealing with an Aggressive Tortoise | Kamp Kenan