Sulcata defined as:
The
African Spurred Tortoise (
Geochelone sulcata)
is a species of tortoise which inhabits the southern edge of
the
Sahara desert, in northern Africa. Their diet provides
them with water, but they don't drink it, they get all of
the water they need from their food. They coat their skin
with mud when available to cool off. When mud wallows are
not available, they retreat to cooler burrows. Spurred
tortoises are important to deserts because their burrows
provide shelter for other animals. They do not hibernate,
like many other types of tortoises, due to their natural
environment being so close to the equator. They love to dig,
and make very long burrows, often much damper than the
ground surface, and other species frequently sublet, making
dens in alcoves off the main burrow.