Sākums Animals African Spurred Tortoise

African Spurred Tortoise

CITES II
IUCN Red List: Endangered

The African spurred tortoise occurs in Africa along the southern edge of the Sahara. The countries of its occurrence include Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan. The species is possibly already extinct in Djibouti and Togo. The population is decreasing rapidly. 

The major factors that continue to affect the species:

■ habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, livestock overgrazing, and set fires;
■ exploitation for consumption (both eggs and meat) and traditional medicinal use;
■ the international pet trade;
■ the gradual effects of climate change and desertification in its sub-Saharan habitat. 

Conservation

■ Included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 1996, listed as Endangered (EN) since 2021.
■ Listed in Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, or Washington Convention).

Taxonomy

■ Phylum Chordata – chordates
■ Class Reptilia – reptiles
■ Order Testudines – turtles
■ Family Testudinidae – tortoises
■ Species Centrochelys sulcata – African Spurred Tortoise

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