Sulcata Tortoise
Centrochelys sulcata
Also known as the African Spurred Tortoise, this is the third-largest tortoise on the planet and the biggest one that lives on a mainland. They look like armored tanks with tan or sandy-colored shells that help them blend into the desert. They get their “spurred” name from the big, pointy scales on their front legs that look like literal spurs. They use those beefy legs to dig massive tunnels—we’re talking 10 feet deep and 30 feet long—just to escape the sun.
The Sahel region of Africa—hot, arid scrubland and savannah.
Native to the southern edge of the Sahara Desert (the Sahel region) in Africa. They range across the arid belt from Senegal and Mauritania in the west to Ethiopia in the east.
Strict herbivores requiring very high fiber.
- Wild: Desert grasses, hay, and succulents.
- Zoo: Grass hay (Timothy/Orchard), weeds, and cactus pads.
- Wild: 50 – 80 years
- Captivity: 70 – 100+ years
- The Bulldozer: They are immensely strong and determined; they can knock down fences and walk through walls if they want to.
- Third Largest: They are the third-largest tortoise species in the world, behind the Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises.
- Burrows: They dig massive burrows up to 10 feet deep and 30 feet long to escape the desert heat.
