Centrochelys – African spurred tortoise

This giant is the largest African and third of all the tortoises on earth

The semi-arid grasslands, scrub, and savannah zones along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert are home to these tortoises, native to arid and semi-arid areas of Africa. They are most active between dusk and dawn and typically bask in the morning to warm up after a chilly night.

They are pretty combative with one another. The breeding season is when this antagonism peaks, although it begins as soon as they hatch. They are currently enlisted as Vulnerable on the IUCN red list due to the destruction of their habitats and overgrazing by livestock.