Reptiles
African spurred tortoise
centrochelys sulcata
IUCN Red ListEndangered
African spurred tortoise
- Description
- The African spurred tortoise is the third-largest tortoise in the world and the largest that lives on a mainland. Adults carry a heavy, domed tan carapace 60–80 cm long and weigh 40–90 kg, with males the larger sex. It is named for the prominent spur-like scales on its hind legs.
- Habitat
- It inhabits the semi-deserts, dry savannas and thorn scrub of the Sahel, along the southern fringe of the Sahara. It escapes the daytime heat in deep burrows it digs itself.
- Diet
- A grazing herbivore, it feeds on grasses, succulents, herbs and fallen fruit, from which it obtains most of the moisture it needs and can go for long periods without drinking.
- Reproduction
- After mating, the female digs a nest chamber in the ground and lays 15–30 (occasionally up to 40) eggs. Incubation lasts about eight months and the hatchlings receive no parental care.
- Lifespan
- Typically 50–80 years, and well over 100 years under good care.
- Did you know?
- It excavates burrows several metres long to escape extreme heat and night-time cold, and these tunnels also shelter many other desert animals.
Homeland & habitat
Where the african spurred tortoise lives
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Sahel (sub-Saharan Africa)The largest mainland tortoise in Africa lives in the semi-deserts and dry savannas of the Sahel, along the southern edge of the Sahara.
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Native range
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10 facts about the african spurred tortoise
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Conservation status
Species vulnerability index
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
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