The African spurred tortoise (or Centrochelys sulcata), also known as the sulcata tortoise, is the largest tortoise of continental Africa, and third-largest tortoise in the world. It inhabits the semi-arid savannahs and shrublands of the Sahel and Sahara. The oval carapace is brown to beige in colour, the scutes darken towards the edges and show grows rings. Superficially, males and females look alike except for slight differences in the scutes on the plastron (the 'belly' of the carapace), though males can achieve greater sizes than females. On average, male tortoises have a straight carapace length of up to 86cm and weigh up to 80kg, while females' straight carapace length averages at 58cm, with a weight of 30kg to 50kg.
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Centrochelys sulcata
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Animal Facts
There are more African spurred tortoises in captivity than there are in the wild, due to their popularity as pets. This provides an opportunity for pet owners to support reintroduction programmes.
African spurred tortoises are apt diggers and will excavate burrows to reach cooler, moist soil. On hot days, they will retreat to these burrows and enter a dormant state, called aestivation.
Upon reaching a certain size and weight (around 30kg), it is thought that African spurred tortoises experience almost no predation. Most mature tortoises in the wild die when they cannot right themselves after falling on their backs.
African spurred tortoises have keratinous spurs on their hind legs for which they are named. It is unknown what purpose these spurs serve.
While African spurred tortoises are herbivorous, they have been seen eating carrion from dead animals from time to time.
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