DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
Africa. Deserts and outskirts of savannah areas.
BEHAVIOUR
Most active at dawn and in the evening during the rainy season. In very hot periods, it shelters itself in burrows it has dug and falls into summer sleep (aestivation). Males are territorial.
DIET
Herbivorous, sporadically eats carrion.
REPRODUCTION
The female lays 15 to 30 eggs in the burrow she dug. Incubation takes about 8 months. Life expectancy: up to 54 years in the wild.
GOOD TO KNOW
Main threats to the species: conversion of natural habitats, illegal international trade.
- Latin name: Centrochelys sulcata
- IUCN Red List – EN – Endangered
- CITES – Appendix II
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