The African spurred tortoise is the third largest species of tortoise on Earth and the largest to live on the mainland of a continent, as opposed to an island. Its range extends along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert from Senegal and Mauritania, east through Mali, Chad, Sudan and Ethiopia to Eritrea. The shell is broad, domed and sandy-brown with well-defined grooves between the scutes. The name “sulcata” comes from the Latin word for “furrow” — these being found between every scute on the tortoise’s back. The defining feature of the species is the large conical spurs on the thighs of the hind legs, which give it both its common and its Ukrainian name.
Key facts
Lifestyle The tortoise is most active during the crepuscular hours of dawn and dusk, when temperatures are optimal. During the hottest part of the day it retreats into underground burrows. These burrows can reach 3 metres in depth and serve not only the tortoise itself, but also other desert animals. It feeds mainly on tough grasses, weeds, and succulent plants. The tortoise can go weeks without food or water, and when it finds a water source it can drink up to 15% of its own body weight in a single session. Despite its slow pace, the sulcata can be surprisingly agile and fast when motivated.
Conservation status The main threats are overgrazing by livestock and climate-change-driven desertification, which lead to habitat loss and competition for food. Additional pressure comes from illegal capture for the pet trade. In some areas, population densities are extremely low and the future survival of populations is seriously at risk.
Distribution The range covers the arid semi-desert regions along the southern edge of the Sahara: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
