No tags yet.
African Sulcata tortoises grow very large up to about three feet long and can weigh between 80-200 pounds or more. The skin of the African sulcata is very think and the legs are covered in dull, spine-like projections. The lifespan is about 50-150 years, though they can live much longer. African sulcatas are from the hot, arid regions of the Sub-Sahara, and do not do well in damp, wet, or cold conditions. In the wild Sulcatas "aestivate" which means they go underground for months at a time in periods of intolerable heat or drought. They are extremely strong animals and have been known to break down fences and even walls. They are also herbivores; they eat many types of grasses and plants and a small portion of their diet consists of fruit. The consumption of too much protein can cause their shells to take on a pyramid shape.