Reserva de la Biosfera de Mapimí - July 2007

Mexico

Description - the Chihuahuan Desert is home to the bolson tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus). In 2007 we traveled to the state of Durango to find this tortoise in situ. Our destination: the Reserva de la Biosfera de Mapimí is part of the Instituto Nacional de Ecología (INECOL). The desert habitat in the surrounding area is home to one of the largest intact populations of Gopherus flavomarginatus remaining. Unfortunately, this ecosystem suffers from off road vehicle use and the overgrazing of cattle.

Bolson tortoise - Gopherus flavomarginatus

Reserva de la Biosfera de Mapimí -Instituto Nacional de Ecología (INECOL)

Maurice Rodrigues with Gopherus flavomarginatus

Gopherus flavomarginatus

Eric Goode and Ross Kiester

Reserva de la Biosfera de Mapimí

Durango mud turtle – Kinosternon durangoense

Carapace of Kinosternon durangoense

Kinosternon durangoense

Eric Goode and Maurice Rodrigues cooling off in an organic cattle tank

Maurice Rodrigues and Eric Goode with Kinosternon durangoense

Maurice Rodrigues and Miye McCullough

Green toad - Bufo debilis

Horses on the Reserva de la Biosfera de Mapimí

Bolson tortoise country

Reserva de la Biosfera de Mapimí

Spade-foot toad - Scaphiopus couchi

Gopherus flavomarginatus

Eric Goode with Gopherus flavomarginatus

Miye McCullough and Eric Goode with Gopherus flavomarginatus

Maurice Rodrigues with Gopherus flavomarginatus

Gopherus flavomarginatus

Gopherus flavomarginatus

Maurice Rodrigues with a western diamondback rattlesnake - Crotalus atrox

Maurice Rodrigues filming Crotalus atrox

Crotalus atrox

Crotalus atrox

Crotalus atrox tasting the air

Lesser Earless Lizard - Holbrookia maculata

Holbrookia maculata

Mortality associated with off-road vehicles

Carapace of Gopherus flavomarginatus

Filming in the Chihuahuan desert

Gopherus flavomarginatus

We poured water on this bolson tortoise to show the yellow markings

Eric Goode filming a bolson tortoise

Gopherus flavomarginatus

Gopherus flavomarginatus

Reserva de la Biosfera de Mapimí