Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo - Animal Fact Sheet


SPURRED THIGH TORTOISE (Geochelone sulcata)
Range:	Southern Sahara desert region ranging from Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Chad, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
Habitat:	Desert region.
Diet:	Plants. They do not drink water, they extract it from the food they eat.
Status	Vulnerable (IUCN)
Approx. Dimensions of Adult:	Weight: 70-100 lbs. Height: 18 inches (shell length)
Lifespan:	Up to 150 years is common.
Reproduction:	30 days to 3 years.
The African spur thigh tortoise is a uniform color of brown to golden yellow color. Growth rings on each scute appear on the carapace. There are also well-defined spurs on the rear legs, which gives it its name African spur thigh tortoise. The skin is thick which may serve to reduce fluid loss through transpiration.