Sulcata Tortoise

Description

Habitat

The Sulcata is a tortoise of the sub-Sahara grasslands. The Sulcata is found in the following countries: Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger?, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia?, and Sudan, all of which have regions that are immediately below the Sahara desert and near the equator.

The Sulcata Tortoise is listed in the IUCN Red List as VU A1cd. From the 1994 Catagories and Criteria page, the Sulcata is classified as vulnerable (VU) by virtue of and observed or estimated population decline of 20% over the last three generations (A1). The decline is based on a reduction of suitable habitat and human exploitation of the species (cd).

Behavior

Net Resources

Harrold, A. 2001. "Geochelone sulcata" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed November 29, 2004, University of Michgan Museum of Zoology

Melissa Kaplan's Sulcata page

Tortoise Trust

Animal Discovery

World Chelonian Trust