Reptile · Sahel of Africa

Sulcata
Tortoise

Centrochelys sulcata

Meet Tank and Baby, Plumpton Park Zoo’s sulcata tortoises, in Rising Sun, Maryland: Africa’s largest mainland tortoise, built to survive the heat and dryness of the Sahel.

Plan Your VisitMeet Our Tortoises
A sulcata tortoise in the grass at Plumpton Park Zoo in Rising Sun, Maryland
SizeShell up to 31 in
Weight100–200 lb
Lifespan50–80 years in care
Conservation statusEndangered

Our sulcatas

Tank & Baby

Slow, strong and built like a tank.

TankBaby

Tank and Baby are Plumpton Park Zoo’s sulcata tortoises. You may see one or both on your visit.

The Sulcata Tortoise is also called the African Spurred Tortoise because of the large, pointed scales near the back legs. It is the largest tortoise native to mainland Africa and one of the largest tortoise species in the world.

The word sulcata refers to grooves or furrows. Adults have tan to yellow-brown shells that blend with dry soil and grasses. The shell is not a removable covering: the ribs and backbone are permanently fused to it. Come meet Tank and Baby at Plumpton Park Zoo — plan your visit.

A sulcata tortoise walking on dirt at Plumpton Park Zoo in Rising Sun, Maryland

A sulcata tortoise out for a walk at Plumpton Park Zoo.

For teachers and homeschool families

A free one-page sulcata tortoise fact sheet with fast facts, words to know, discussion questions and a drawing activity. Teachers may copy and share it freely as long as they credit Plumpton Park Zoo.

Printable Fact Sheet (PDF)


Field guide

Where do sulcata tortoises live?

Sulcata tortoises inhabit the Sahel, a broad belt of dry grassland, savanna and scrub along the southern edge of the Sahara. Their range stretches across the Sahel from Senegal and Mauritania east to Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, where rainfall is limited and temperatures can be extreme.

These tortoises escape the worst heat by digging long burrows. Underground conditions are cooler and more humid than the surface, helping the animals conserve water and keep body temperature within a safe range.

It is the third-largest tortoise in the world, after the giant tortoises of the Galápagos and Aldabra. Its burrows can stretch up to about 50 feet (15 m) long, and a burrow is occasionally used by more than one tortoise.

Sources: IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (Petrozzi et al. 2020); Animal Diversity Web: Centrochelys sulcata.


At a glance

Sulcata tortoise at a glance

Scientific nameCentrochelys sulcata
Other nameAfrican Spurred Tortoise
Animal groupReptile — Tortoise
Native regionThe Sahel, south of the Sahara
HabitatDry grassland, savanna and scrub
Shell lengthMales up to about 31 in; females up to about 23 in
WeightUsually about 100–200 lb; big males top 220 lb
LifespanUsually 50–80 years in human care
DietSucculents, herbs and grasses
Conservation statusEndangered
At Plumpton ParkTank & Baby

Lifespan: usually 50 to 80 years in human care, possibly up to 120.

Sources: IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (Petrozzi et al. 2020); IUCN Red List (2021); Animal Diversity Web: Centrochelys sulcata.


50 ft

How long a sulcata burrow can stretch

Burrowing and temperature control

A tortoise that digs its own climate

A Sulcata Tortoise uses its powerful forelegs and claws like excavation equipment. Burrows provide shelter from heat and cold, help the tortoise avoid drying out and may extend far enough to create a stable underground microclimate.

A Sulcata’s burrow is not just a hiding place—it creates a cooler, more humid miniature habitat beneath the dry surface. A single burrow is sometimes shared by more than one tortoise.

Sources: IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (Petrozzi et al. 2020); Animal Diversity Web: Centrochelys sulcata.


Built for the Sahel

Amazing adaptations

Like all reptiles, Sulcatas are ectothermic. They warm themselves from their surroundings and retreat to shade or burrows when conditions become too hot. During extreme heat and drought, activity may decrease substantially—a response called aestivation.

Sulcatas are most active at dawn and dusk, basking in the morning sun and avoiding the midday heat. In extreme temperatures they also use mud wallows, and they can cool themselves by spreading saliva on their forearms.

  • Powerful digging limbs: create deep shelters with cooler, more humid conditions
  • Tan shell: provides camouflage against dry soil and grass
  • High-fiber digestion: extracts nutrition from tough grasses and other coarse plants

Sources: IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (Petrozzi et al. 2020); Animal Diversity Web: Centrochelys sulcata.

On the menu

What do sulcata tortoises eat?

Sulcata tortoises are herbivores adapted to fibrous, low-nutrient vegetation. Wild sulcatas eat mostly succulents, herbs and grasses, including dry, withered plants. Much of their moisture comes directly from food.

Their beak-like jaws clip vegetation, while fermentation in the gut helps break down tough plant fiber.

Sources: IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (Petrozzi et al. 2020); Animal Diversity Web: Centrochelys sulcata.


Family life

Breeding and life cycle

15–20eggs in a typical clutch
~8months until hatching
10–15years to maturity

Males may compete by pushing and attempting to overturn rivals. A female digs a nest chamber, lays a clutch of eggs and covers it with soil. Heat from the ground incubates the eggs, and hatchlings emerge fully capable of walking and feeding without parental care.

Sulcatas grow for many years and can live for several decades. Their eventual size, strength and digging ability make them challenging animals to keep, which is why prospective owners must plan for the adult rather than the small hatchling sold in the pet trade.

Sources: IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (Petrozzi et al. 2020); Animal Diversity Web: Centrochelys sulcata.


Spot the difference

Sulcata or another tortoise?

Sulcata tortoise

Centrochelys sulcata. Tan shell, thick scaly legs and large pointed “spurs” near the back legs.

Aldabra giant tortoise

A larger island tortoise from the Indian Ocean. Meet our Aldabra giant tortoises.

Red-footed tortoise

A smaller South American tortoise with red and orange scales. See our red-footed tortoises.

Galápagos giant tortoise

The giant of the Galápagos Islands. Learn about the Galápagos giant tortoise in our Animal Learning Center.

Sources: IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (Petrozzi et al. 2020).


Conservation

Conservation

Endangered

The Sulcata Tortoise is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, in an assessment published in 2021. It is listed on CITES Appendix II, and wild-caught sulcatas may not be exported for commercial trade.

Habitat degradation, livestock pressure, collection for international trade and local use all affect wild populations. Choosing captive-bred animals and understanding the lifelong care required can reduce demand for wild collection and prevent abandoned pets.

Sources: IUCN Red List (2021); CITES Species+; IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (Petrozzi et al. 2020).


Support

Help care for Tank, Baby & the animals of Plumpton Park

As a nonprofit zoo, Plumpton Park Zoo relies on admissions, memberships and the generosity of people who believe in what we do. Donations help support animal care, veterinary services, nutritious diets, enrichment, habitat improvements and the continued development of the zoo.

Support Our Animals

Plumpton Park Zoological Gardens, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations support the zoo’s charitable mission and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.


Questions

Common questions about sulcata tortoises

Is a Sulcata the same as an African Spurred Tortoise?

Yes. Both names refer to Centrochelys sulcata.

Why do Sulcata Tortoises dig?

Burrows protect them from extreme surface temperatures and reduce water loss by providing a cooler, more humid refuge.

Do Sulcatas hibernate?

No. In the wild they rest in their burrows through the hottest, driest months (aestivation) instead of hibernating. In cold climates they must be kept indoors in winter.

Can Sulcata Tortoises leave their shells?

No. A tortoise’s shell is living bone fused to the spine and ribs and grows with the animal.

How big do sulcata tortoises get?

Males can reach a shell length of about 31 inches and females about 23 inches. Adults typically weigh about 100 to 200 pounds, and big males can top 220.

Where can I see a sulcata tortoise in Maryland?

At Plumpton Park Zoo in Rising Sun, Cecil County, Maryland, home to Tank and Baby. See Hours and Tickets for times and admission.

Sources: IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (Petrozzi et al. 2020); Animal Diversity Web: Testudines; Animal Diversity Web: Centrochelys sulcata.



See our sulcatas at Plumpton Park Zoo

Meet Tank and Baby and discover more than 200 animals in Rising Sun, Maryland.

Continue learning about reptiles, adaptations and conservation in the Plumpton Park Zoo Animal Learning Center, or explore more reptiles and amphibians at Plumpton Park Zoo, including our Aldabra giant tortoises. You can also feed a giraffe.

Hours & TicketsGet TicketsTeacher Fact Sheet (PDF)