Sulcata Tortoise

The Sulcata tortoise, also known as African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata)), is an exotic species of land tortoise that is popular worldwide. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, this tortoise is known for its large size, longevity, and friendly personality. They are long-lived animals and can live up to 100 years in captivity. The Sulcata tortoise is a popular pet species, but due to its size and specific care needs, it is not suitable for all pet owners. The Sulcata tortoise faces threats such as habitat loss and poaching, so conservation efforts are needed to protect this endangered species.

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Sulcata Tortoise Distribution

The Sulcata tortoise formerly lived in central Africa, more precisely between Mauritania and Ethiopia. There is evidence of isolated populations in southern Mauritania, northwest Senegal, southern Mali, Chad, Eritrea, and Ethiopia.

Sulcata Tortoise Habits

The activity of the Sulcata tortoise is influenced by the climate climate, with a rainy season in July-August, a warm and humid season until November, and a very hot and dry season until June. To protect itself from the heat and dryness, this tortoise excavates burrows digs very long burrows, where it spends much of the hot hours and the dry season. These are tunnels shaped exactly to its body, with several wider chambers to rest or turn around, where it finds some moisture during the dry season and even dead animals to feed on.

It can live many weeks without eating or drinking. Young tortoises share burrows with adults. The young begin to dig their own burrow at 5 years old.

sulcata turtle shell — Sulcata Turtle Shell

How long does a Sulcata tortoise live?

Unlike other tortoise species, sulcatas have a lifespan of up to 80 years, which means they can be a pet that stays with you for your entire life. Although in captivity they can live beyond 100 years.

How big does a Sulcata tortoise get?

The sulcata tortoises they can grow up to 80 centimeters long and weigh more than males 98 kilograms and the females reach 60 kg. in adulthood. As a terrestrial tortoise species, they do not need a body of water to swim in, but they do require a large land area to move and explore. It is the largest tortoise on the African continent.

What can a Sulcata tortoise eat?

A fiber-rich diet, such as hay and grass, is ideal for sulcata tortoises, but they also need a protein source in the form of insects and fresh vegetables. Their natural habitat is nutrient-poor and they are mostly herbivorous. In captivity, they are fed peanut plants but also enjoy mangoes and watermelons, although they can consume dead animals, thorny plants, tree bark, algae, and aquatic plants. They drink infrequently but after dry periods can consume up to 15% of their body weight in water.

Sulcata Tortoise Care

Sulcata tortoises require a warm, dry habitat with a temperature environment of at least 21°C. They need shelter to hide from direct sunlight and protect themselves from extreme temperatures, and they also need access to a clean water source for drinking and soaking.

Sulcata Tortoises Outdoors

The life of sulcata tortoises outdoors offers numerous advantages over indoors, especially during warm seasons, and should be considered an option. Sulcatas, in particular, due to their large size and grazing habits, should be kept outdoors whenever the climate conditions allow it.

Sulcata Tortoises Indoors

The most common way to keep these tortoises indoors is in a tortoise table or terrarium. For a baby tortoise, a reasonable habitat should measure about 60 x 60 cm, but its size should be increased as the tortoise grows, since they are a fast-growing species and can exceed 30 cm by age 3. Holes can be made at the bottom of the table for draining food and water, and eventually nesting containers (nests) with easy access for the animals. However, for an adult tortoise, the indoor habitat should be at least 240 x 240 cm. Keeping this species indoors is not practical.

The water area of the habitat should be large enough for the tortoise to fully submerge itself, but not so deep that it could drown. As substrate in the dry portion of the habitat, a mix of soil and sand or cypress mulch works very well, but for this and other arid species, the preferred substrate is grass (straw), as it is very easy to maintain and provides nutrients to the tortoises if they eat it. This area should be kept dry, as Sulcatas do not tolerate moisture. If sand is used as substrate, it is recommended not to place food on the sandy area, as it can be retained in the digestive tract, which could possibly cause the tortoise's death.

The habitat should also be equipped with a UVB lamp.

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Sulcata Tortoise Reproduction

Sexual dimorphism is very pronounced; males have concavities under the plastron that exceed 12 cm in depth. Males are larger than females.

Their nests are deep (sometimes up to 40 cm) and are observed two clutches on average, with a maximum of 4 per female. Each clutch contains 13 to 31 eggs (an average of 19 per clutch), weighing between 45 g and 60 g. The egg is almost round. Incubation lasts about 120 days. 90% of the eggs hatch viable offspring. The baby sulcata tortoise weighs approximately 50 g. Growth is rapid, 1 kg at two years, and 5 to 6 kg at four years.

Mating is a spectacular moment because they are large tortoises. The male supports himself with his front legs on the female and emits a hoarse sound.

baby sulcata turtle — Baby Sulcata Turtle

Sulcata Tortoise Conservation Status

It was once considered a type of tortoise common and was consumed by many peoples and exported to Western countries. Until the mid-20th century, there was a significant population of sulcata tortoises, but they declined due to exports to zoos, private gardens, and collections intended for food. The constant increase in livestock led to overgrazing and subsequent desertification, and the sulcata tortoise could not adapt. Currently, it is collection prohibited this species in the wild.

Currently, there are many sulcata tortoises in zoos, so in the West they can breed them to exchange with other zoos. There is a French association called SOS Sulcata that shelters tortoises confiscated, repatriated, or injured at customs in Senegal.