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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
African
spurred tortoise |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Reptilia |
| ORDER: |
Testudines
(somes sources cite as Chelonia) |
| FAMILY: |
text |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Geochelone
sulcata |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
text |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| SIZE: |
text |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| WEIGHT: |
text |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| INCUBATION: |
text |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
text |
| BREEDING
PERIOD |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
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| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
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| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
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| REGIONAL |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
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| CITES |
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| USFWS |
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| 1. |
African
spurred tortoises inhabit the southern edge of the
Sahara desert in northern Africa. They get their
name from two to three large spurs located on their
thighs. This species has many adaptations and behaviors
for living in a dry environment. Thick skin prevents
loss of moisture. They are active in the morning
and evening, spending the hottest part of the day
underground. Their diet of succulent plants provides
them with water, and they coat their skin with mud
to cool off. Spurred tortoises are important to
deserts because their burrows provide shelter for
other animals. |
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