African Spurred Tortoise
Scientific Name: Geochelone sulcata
Habitat: arid plains and grasslands
Diet: spiny plants, grasses, carrion
Life span: unknown, longer than 100 years
Young: 15-30 eggs/clutch
Size: up to 105.5 kg (233 lbs)
These excellent diggers use their long burrows for shelter from the sun during the heat of the day and for aestivation (dormancy) during the dry season.
Hatchlings grow quickly to increase their size by 18 times in their first 5 years. As adults, they are the third largest tortoise in the world (after the Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises).
African spurred tortoises fight by ramming the shell and attempting to flip the opposing tortoise.
Human encroachment on their habitat, hunting, and the pet trade are the main threats to these tortoises.
Learn more about this species:
These are some other websites that we think have more great information about this species.
African spurred tortoise on Animal Diversity Web
For More Information
Edmonton Valley Zoo
13315 Buena Vista Road (87th Avenue)
PO Box 2359
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7
| attractions@edmonton.ca |
Range
Range: central Africa
Status in the Wild
Status: threatened
