---
title: "Sporenschildpad"
description: "Centrochelys sulcata — Reptielen. The African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata), also called the sulcata tortoise, is an endangered species of tortoise inhabiting the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and the Sahel."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/nl/animal/african-spurred-tortoise
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Sporenschildpad

> Centrochelys sulcata — Reptielen. The African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata), also called the sulcata tortoise, is an endangered species of tortoise inhabiting the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and the Sahel.

- Scientific name: *Centrochelys sulcata*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptielen)
- Habitats: `zoo` (Dierentuin en huisdieren), `savanna` (Savanne), `desert` (Woestijn)
- iNaturalist observations: 5165
- Wikidata: [Q301016](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q301016)
- iNaturalist taxon: [40089](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/40089)

## Names

- en: African Spurred Tortoise
- de: Spornschildkröte
- es: Tortuga africana de espolones
- fr: Tortue sillonnée
- it: Geochelone sulcata
- nl: Sporenschildpad
- pt: Tartaruga-de-esporas-africana
- pl: Żółw pustynny

## Countries with the most observations

US (138), BJ (64), SN (42), TD (16), TG (13), NG (9), NE (7), BF (6), TH (5), PR (4), GH (3), ML (3)

## Summary

The African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata), also called the sulcata tortoise, is an endangered species of tortoise inhabiting the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and the Sahel. It is the largest mainland species of tortoise in Africa, and the third-largest in the world, after the Galapagos tortoise and Aldabra giant tortoise. It is the only living species in its genus, Centrochelys.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_spurred_tortoise

## Photo

![Sporenschildpad](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/african-spurred-tortoise/medium.jpg)

Photo: Светлана Царахова · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/283641941

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/african-spurred-tortoise?lang=nl` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).