ROM Curator leads team that discovers new desert tortoise species among the lands of Mexican cartels

TORONTO, February 10, 2016 — A team of international researchers, led by Dr. Bob Murphy, ROM Senior Curator of Herpetology, discovered a new species of desert tortoise in Sonora and Sinaloa, in northern Mexico. After decades of study, the research team uncovered what was previously thought to be a single species of tortoise is actually three species. The new species bears the name Goode’s Thornscrub Tortoise (Gopherus evgoodei). The previously known tortoises in this group, Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise and Morafka’s Desert Tortoise, live in the Mojave Desert, from southern Utah to southern California and from Arizona to central Sonora.  

The official inventory of these charismatic beasts is only 342 species. Additionally, part of the population of Morafka’s Desert Tortoise has diminished over the years, leaving Goode’s Thornscrub Tortoise with the smallest distribution among the group. Although the species is most certainly threatened with extinction, listing the species as Endangered, and therefore protected by Mexican and/or international law, required it to be described first.  

Research by Dr. Murphy and his colleagues redefines the global tortoise inventory, and helps Mexico understand their natural history.  "This discovery draws attention to the special biodiversity found in Mexico, and the habitats that are threatened." says Dr. Murphy, "These research results will help scientists in their efforts to protect endemic wildlife."

The research will be published this week in the journal ZooKeys. This includes findings that Goode’s and Morafka’s tortoises live side-by-side, and occasionally hybridize, similar to the way Neanderthals and humans once did. However, most individual tortoises appear to remain in their corresponding habitats and have different preferred body temperatures.

The new species is named for businessman and philanthropist Eric V. Goode, known for his efforts to ensure the survival of turtles and tortoises globally. Eric founded The Turtle Conservancy, and will champion land securement in Mexico to protect the new species.

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