African Spurred Tortoise

Centrochelys sulcata

Stats

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Eats

A variety of grasses, weeds, leaves and flowers

Lives

They are found in the dry Sub-Sahara and Northern Africa

Behavior

Description

African spurred tortoises are well-adapted for desert life! Their brownish or yellowish shells provide camouflage against predators, while their thick scales protect their limbs and heads. Unique enlarged spurs on their hind limbs help them dig burrows up to 10 feet deep, keeping them cool and conserving moisture. Their thick skin minimizes water loss, allowing them to thrive in arid environments, and they get most of their water from the succulent plants they eat.

Did you Know?

African Spurred Tortoises are often in deserts where there is little to no water available. To survive in these conditions they have adapted to get most of their water intake from their food and will even eat cactus when there is a particularly dry spell.