This is a desert tortoise:
These are the fruit of prickly pears. Around here they are called TUNAS. Most birds and animals love them:
This video shows a desert tortoise eating a tuna. YUM!
Technorati Tags: Desert Tortoise,Tohono Chul Park,Prickly Pear Fruit
As I recall from my youth, prickly pear fruit are tasty, but a bit astringent. An acquired taste, I suppose. Unless you're a tortoise. Beats the hell out of creosote bushes I bet!
ReplyDeletePrickly pear is actually very tasty. Creosote contains a kidney-destroying poison, but some animals (pack rats and jackrabbits) are able to eat it. In pack rats, the bacteria in their guts renders the poison harmless. Not sure about the jackrabbits, but probably the same thing.
Delete