How do tortoises survive in the desert with so little water? Well, they have several tricks up their shells. We know that reptiles are ectotherms, which means they need much less food and water than comparably-sized mammals since they do not need to consume and burn so many calories to stay warm. That is the first thing they have going for them. Since they have such low requirements, the water already contained in the vegetation they eat goes a long way towards keeping them hydrated. Many can go incredible lengths of time away from any drinkable water by merely finding such vegetation. Their adaptations don’t stop there, though. Another trick of the trade they use is burrowing.
This lesson is part of Certified Herpetological Guide. Enrollment is self-paced, with no deadline to finish (about 50 hours).
