The African Spurred Tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) is also known as the ‘Grooved Tortoise’, the ‘Spur Tortoise’ and the ‘African Spur Thigh Tortoise’.

It is a desert-dwelling tortoise whose range extends along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert from Senegal and Mauritania, east through Mali, Chad, the Sudan and Ethiopia to Eritrea. It is the third largest tortoise in the world and the largest mainland tortoise. Find out more!

The African Spurred Tortoise lives in arid regions particularly desert and dry savanna and where there is no permanent water source. It digs burrows in the sand which can measure 30 – 35 inches deep or underground tunnels extending 10 feet or more.

These burrows and tunnels give access to higher moisture levels in their arid environment. They spend the hottest parts of the day in these habitats. Permanent sleeping burrows are also constructed and are shared by two or more tortoises.

They are herbivores and their diet consists of desert succulents, dried leaves and grass and particularly leaves from the Morning-Glory plant.

Males are quite aggressive in nature and will ram and bite each other while vocalising grunts, croaks and whistles. Even from the moment these tortoises hatch they are aggressive with each other and even try to flip each other over on to their shells.

The African Spurred Tortoise becomes inactive during very cold or very hot weather. When long drought periods occur, they survive by bedding themselves into their burrows. Their most active periods are during the rain season (July to October) particularly at dawn and dusk when they will forage for food. They spend their mornings basking in the hot sun in order to raise their body temperatures which drop during the cold nights.