SULCATA TORTOISE
Geochelone sulcata

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION:
Sulcata tortoises are herbivores and, in the wild, get most of their food from dried grasses and leaves.

They sometimes have to travel long distances, grazing all the time, to get their fill, as food is very scarce in the semi-arid region in which they live.

Sulcatas prefer to live in warm, dry areas with lots of sunlight. They do not hibernate as many other desert tortoises do, as the region in which they live does not experience the extreme cold temperatures of some other deserts.

They are very strong animals and can move very heavy objects. The male tortoise will often ram the female, which produces a thunderous sound. They can weigh over 200 lb and can reach up to 90cm (35 inches) in length.

Like other tortoises, they are very long lived, reaching a maximum age of about 200 years.