The Sulcata Tortoise is a species of tortoise that is native to parts of Africa. They are even found along the Southern border of the Sahara Desert.
This species has a couple of common names including the African Spurred Tortoise and the African Spur Thigh Tortoise. These names come from the fact that they have two or three spurs located on their thighs.
They are a large species of tortoise that can grow to over two feet in length. They do however grow very slowly and it can take 15-20 years for them to reach their adult size.
Sulcata Tortoise Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Sulcata Tortoise belongs to the family Testudinidae. This is simply the family of tortoises. They are closely related to Pond Turtles and Asian Turtles.
Tortoises can vary greatly in size from the Galapagos Giant Tortoise that is over 1.2 metres to tiny tortoises that are only about 3 inches in length.
Most species of tortoise have a number of similarities. However, there are always a few exceptions to these rules.
In general, tortoises have a hard shell and they retract their head and neck directly backwards into the shell to protect them.
They are land animals that swim poorly or can’t swim at all. They typically move very slowly, with average speeds of less than 0.5km per hour.
There are 17 different genera of tortoises at the time of writing and over 60 recognised species.
Genus
The genus that the Sulcata Tortoise belongs to is called Centrochelys. The Sulcata is the only living species in this genus.
However, there are a number of extinct species that have been classified under the Centrochelys genus.
Sulcata Tortoise Species
The scientific name for the Sulcata tortoise is Centrochelys sulcata and there are currently no recognised sub-species.
It was first described in 1779 by John Frederick Miller. Miller was best known as an illustrator of botanical subjects.
When it was first described, the Sulcata Tortoise was placed in the Testudo genus which contains other popular species such as the Hermann’s Tortoise and the Russian Tortoise.
Some recent literature even put this tortoise in the Geochelone genus with species such as the Indian Star Tortoise but this isn’t currently accepted as valid.
Sulcata Tortoise Description
The Sulcata Tortoise is a large species of tortoise that can grow to over two feet in length. They do however grow very slowly and it can take 15-20 years for them to reach their adult size.
The body of the tortoise is yellowish in color and has large pointy or keeled scales. This makes their skin rough to touch.
These scales are overlapping on the front of their forelimbs and they have cone-shaped spurs on each thigh.
This is where they get their other common names, the African Spurred Tortoise and the African Spur Thigh Tortoise.
Their shell is typically brown or tan in color. They typically have darker markings that run along the base of the scutes.
This makes it easier to identify each scute but the dark markings can be faint or almost non-existent in some adult specimens.
The yellow colored skin and light brown or tan shell helps the tortoise to blend into the sandy background of the Sahara Desert and other arid regions that they call home.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Sulcata Tortoise has a very large geographical distribution that almost expands the width of the Continent.
They are not found in the extreme North or South of Africa as their range concentrated around the areas South of the Sahara Desert.
While the Sulcata Tortoise can be found on the Southern outskirts of the Sahara, their range is more concentrated in an area known as the Sahel.
The Sahel is a transitional area between the lifeless Sahara Desert and the tropical savannas further South.
This region has a semi-arid climate and stretches across the continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.
The Sulcata Tortoise can be found in a wide range of countries. In Western Africa, it can be found in places such as Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo and Benin.
As you move towards Central Africa, the tortoise can be found in places such as Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon.
To the East, the Sulcata Tortoise can be found in Sudan, South Sudan and Ethiopia. It can also be found in many of the countries in between.
They share some of their range with species such as the Savannah Monitor, the African Fire Skink and the Egg Eater Snake.
Sulcata Tortoise Behaviour
The Sulcata Tortoise is an expert digger and can dig huge underground systems. This helps them to avoid the heat of the day and also provides them with higher humidity levels as the soil is wetter underground.
These underground burrows are typically around 3ft deep but they can reach a depth of up to 10ft. They can also be around 30ft in length.
Like all other tortoises, they are slow moving creatures. They have a calm manner and rarely show signs of aggression towards people.
However, they can be aggressive towards each other. Males will ram into each other in attempt to assert their dominance. They are even known to try and flip each other over.
They are a very curious species of tortoise which makes them appealing to many tortoise keepers.
However, this comes at a cost to the tortoise as their curiosity can get them into dangerous situations.
In captivity it is not uncommon to find a Sulcata wedged into a small gap it cant get out of. They may even be found turned over kn their backs, unable to right themselves.
In the wild, these animals are primarily doing one of two things. They will either be burrowing or grazing on plants and grasses.
When the temperature is excessively hot, they will escape into their underground burrows but once it cools, they will emerge to eat. These large animals require a lot of calories.
They will also spread their saliva along their arms when it is too hot. This is used in an attempt to help cool themselves off.
The Sulcata Tortoise is typically most active during the cooler months of the year when the temperature is more forgiving.
While most reptiles become inactive during the cooler months, the Sulcata Tortoise does this during the hotter dry season.
During this time, they will retreat into their burrows and slow down their metabolism, much like hibernation. This puts them in a state called torpor.
Sulcata Tortoise as Pets
The Sulcata Tortoise is a unique species of tortoise with a great personality that makes them an appealing option to many tortoise keepers.
These tortoises are far more sociable than other species and will often interact with their owners. They even have the ability to identify different people.
The Sulcata Tortoise is sometimes compared to a pet dog due to its docile temperament and individual personalities.
While this species can make a great pet for the right owner, it is not a species than can be kept by everyone due to their large size and care requirements.
These tortoises can can get very big and will need a massive enclosure. Unless you live in an environment where you can keep them outdoors, at least for part of the year, it will be very difficult to care for them.
It is also important to remember that these tortoises will outlive most humans so it truly is a lifelong commitment looking after one of these animals.
Sulcata Tortoise Enclosure
The Sulcata Tortoise needs a lot of space to roam around and dig burrows. Because of this, they are best suited for people who can provide them with large outdoor enclosures.
As babies these tortoises can be kept indoors. Unfortunately, this often means that irresponsible people purchase these tortoises and then try to get rid of them once they have outgrown their juvenile enclosure.
A baby Sulcata Tortoise can be kept in an enclosure measuring around 3ft x 2ft for the first year or so.
Alternatively, you can offer them a 4ft long enclosure which should be large enough for at least the first two years of the tortoise’s life.
Height is also important when it comes to their enclosure. While they don’t climb well, these tortoises love to burrow so they will require a deep layer of substrate.
A variety of different enclosure types can be used here ranging from a wooden vivarium to a plastic tub to a tortoise table.
Once the tortoise reaches around 2 years of age, it is probably time to move them to their outdoor enclosure. This is obviously only possible if you live in an adequate climate.
You can house a younger specimen outdoors as long as the conditions are right, the setup is escape-proof and your tortoise is protected from predators.
The great thing about outdoor enclosures is that your tortoise will have plenty of space to move around and you will be able to witness their natural behaviour.
The Sulcata Tortoise can be housed in an outdoor enclosure that measures around 10ft x 10ft. You can go even larger if you have the space.
You will need a wall surrounding the enclosure that is at least 1ft tall to prevent them from escaping.
You will also need to consider having walls below the surface to prevent your tortoise from digging a tunnel underneath the walls of their enclosure.
Another major consideration during the construction of an outdoor enclosure is predators. You will need to make the enclosure ‘predator proof’.
The measures you will need to put in place to protect your Sulcata Tortoise from predators will be dictated by the types of predators present where you live.
A fence around the enclosure might help protect against terrestrial predators while a net might be required to protect juveniles from birds of prey.
You will also want to include a couple of hides that they can retreat to. This will help them to feel secure if a predator is around. It will also provide them with shade from the sun.
Light and Heat
Like all reptiles, the Sulcata Tortoise is ectothermic, meaning that they use external conditions to regulate their body temperature.
This means that you will need to provide them with warm areas and cooler areas to allow them to regulate correctly.
This means that you can only keep your Sulcata Tortoise outdoors if the temperature where you live is hot enough for them.
You can then offer them cooler areas in their enclosures by adding hides and burrows. If part of the enclosure is shaded, this will also offer them a cooler area to retreat to.
When keeping a Sulcata tortoise indoors, you will need to provide them with this temperature grading using heat sources such as heat bulbs.
The temperature under the basking spot in the enclosure should measure over 100F while the ambient temperature should still be quite warm, measuring around 85-95F.
When keeping a Sulcata Tortoise indoors, you will also need to provide them with a source of UVB so they can process calcium and Vitamin D3.
Substrate
When keeping a Sulcata Tortoise outside, the grass in the garden can be used as a substrate. If the soil is very hard, consider adding a layer of softer sandy soil that they can dig in.
When housing these tortoises indoors, you will need to offer them a deep layer of substrate to promote their burrowing behaviour.
Common substrates used in a Sulcata Tortoise enclosure include a mixture of sand and soil, orchid bark and cypress mulch.
Water and Humidity
The Sulcata Tortoise will receive most of its water requirements from the food that it eats. However, you should still provide them with a clean source of water at all times.
A large but shallow water dish is ideal for these tortoises. Aim for something that they can climb into as they like to soak in water from time to time in order to cool off.
It is important to clean the water dish and replace the bowl regularly as the Sulcata Tortoise will likely go to the toilet in it.
Dirty stagnant water can be a breeding ground for bacteria which can make your animal very sick.
While these tortoises are native to dry, arid regions of Africa, they actually require relatively high levels of humidity.
This is because they will spend much of their time in underground burrows where the soil is more humid than the air above.
You should aim for a humidity level of around 40-60%. If you live in an area with low humidity, add a humid hide to their enclosure to replicate their natural environment.
Sulcata Tortoise Diet
The Sulcata Tortoise is a herbivore, meaning rhey consume a diet that consists of plant matter such as grasses, plants and leaves.
When kept outdoors, these tortoises will graze on garden grass. You can also offer them small piles of hay to munch on.
They should be offered a variety of other plant matter. The more variety in a diet, the more nutrients your tortoise will get.
You can offer a Sulcata Tortoise things like Collard Greens, Cactus Pads, Mulberry Leaves and Grape Leaves.
The majority of their diet will consist of grasses, hay and leaves but you can offer the occasional piece of fruit or vegetable as a treat. Just check that what you are offering them is safe.
Avoid foods that are high in oxalates as they are bad for their digestive system. This includes things like Broccoli, Kale and Spinach.