The African spurred tortoise is one of the largest tortoises in the world, with males reaching weights up to 200 pounds! They are named for the spurs located on their back legs.
Spurred tortoises may double in size each year until they reach maturity, which is around 15 years old. These tortoises can live well over 50 or 60 years! Unlike many invertebrates, turtles and tortoises cannot leave their shell behind. The backbone of the tortoise is embedded in the top of the shell (called a carapace), and the rib cage is a part of the underside of the shell. The carapace is made up of hardened scales called scutes, which are made up of keratin- the same thing our fingernails are made of! Spurred tortoises are able to survive in the extreme heat of the desert by digging extensive burrows as deep as 10 feet.
The African Spurred Tortoise is the third largest tortoise species living today, surpassed only by the Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoises. Living in a desert makes obtaining water hard, and so they have adapted to foraging for succulents and water-holding plant material. Spending the warmest parts of the day sleeping in dark, cool burrows also helps to stay cool and retain water.
Andrea
The African spurred tortoise is the largest mainland tortoise. Only the Aldabra and Galapagos tortoises, which are found on small islands, are larger.
Southern edge of Sahara Desert in Northern Africa
Desert, semiarid grasslands, savannah
2–3 feet in length | 200 pounds max
Grass, plants, fruit
Opossums, raccoons, other small carnivorous mammals
Shell and thick skin
15-30 eggs per clutch
Vulnerable
50+ years
