THE ROLE OF URINATION IN EGG PREDATOR DEFENSE IN THE DESERT TORTOISE (GOPHERUS AGASSIZI)

Abstract

In the desert tortoise Gopherus agassizi, the egg nest is urinated upon by the female as an aid to nest digging, repulsion of egg predators, camouflage of the egg nest, and as a compaction agent that makes nest excava- tion difficult. Experimental tests were run using zoo animals, and soil penetration and compaction tests were supportive of the above conclusions. No bacteriostatic agent was found in tortoise urine.