The African Spurred Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) is a large African reptile featured in the Zookeepers Animal Pack DLC for Planet Zoo.
Zoopedia Description[]
General[]
Population In Wild: Unknown
The African spurred tortoise (or Centrochelys sulcata), also known as the sulcata tortoise, is the largest tortoise of continental Africa, and third-largest tortoise in the world. In inhabits the semi-arid savannahs and shrublands of the Sahel and Sahara. The oval carapace is brown to beige in color, the scutes darken towards the the edges and show grow rings. Superficially, males and females look alike except for slight differences in the scutes on the plastron (the 'belly' of the carapace), though males can achieve greater sizes then females. On average, male tortoises have a straight carapace length of up to 86cm and weigh up to 80kg, while females' straight carapace length average at 58cm, with a weight of 30kg to 50kg
Due to the vast reduction of their distribution area, African spurred tortoise are considered an endangered species. Their decline can be attributed to multiple factors: the use of grazing territories for domestic livestock coupled with increased risks of wildfires deprives them of access to many important food resources, and many tortoises are illegally removed from the wild to be sold as pets. Several reintroduction programmes work to bolster wild populations in Senegal which see high success rates.
Social[]
Male African spurred tortoises are territorial during the breeding season and may fight each other over access to mates. Otherwise these tortoises tolerate nearby individuals provided enough resources are available.
Reproduction[]
The mating season of African spurred tortoises take place from September to November, after the end of the rain season. Males will fight each other for the right to mate with females on their territory, with larger males generally emerging as the victor of these interactions.
Female tortoises begin looking for a nesting site about 2 months after mating. A female may dig multiple nests before choosing the most suitable location to lay her eggs in, between 15-40 per clutch. After laying her eggs, she will cover them nest back up with back up with the excavated soil. The eggs incubate for about 90 days underground until the hatchlings emerge from the nest.
The mother provides no parental care to the nest of the hatchlings, and many clutches and young hatchlings fall prey to predators such as snakes, lizards, or mongooses. the young grow quickly in the first years of there lives, and both sexes reach sexual maturity at about 10 years old.
Animal Care[]
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Hay · Root Vegetables · Fruit | |
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Trivia[]
Zoopedia Fun Facts[]
- There are more African spurred tortoises in captivity than in the wild, due to their popularity as pets. This provides an opportunity for pet owners to support reintroduction programs.
- African spurred tortoises are apt diggers and will excavate burrows to reach cooler, moist soil. On hot days, they will retreat to these burrows and enter a dormant state, called aestivation.
- Upon reaching a certain size and weight (around 30kg), it is thought that African spurred tortoises experience almost no predation. Most mature tortoises in the wild die when they cannot right themselves after falling on their backs.
- African spurred tortoises have keratinous spurs on their hind legs for which they are named. It is unknown what purpose these spurs serve.
- While African spurred tortoises are herbivorous, they have been seen eating carrion from dead animals from time to time.
Other Trivia[]
- The African Spurred Tortoise is also known as the “African Spur Thigh Tortoise”, the “Grooved Tortoise” and the “Spur Tortoise”.
Gallery[]
