fortheloveofherpetology: African Spur-Thigh or Sulcata Tortoise (Geochelone sulcata)
- The African Spur-Thigh Tortoise, often called the Sulcata Tortoise is native to the Southern Sahara desert region
- They can reach up to 3-4 feet in length and 240 pounds
- Reptile experts claim that these tortoises will live up to 70 years but many cases have been reported of these tortoises living up to 150 years
- This tortoise is uniformally brown to golden yellow color
- They have well-defined spurs on their legs, which is where they get their name from
- Growth rings will appear on each scute (shell section) on the carapace
- A sulcata’s shell is thick, which may help it to retain fluid during dry periods
- In the wild sulcata’s are grazers and need high fiber, low-protein foods
- They make burrows in the ground where they can rest in safe comfort during the day, these burrows will have only one entry/exit (unless there is a cave-in inside the tunnel system)
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