The Saharan desert consist of eight ecoregions: Atlantic coastal desert, North Saharan steppe and woodlands, Sahara desert, South Saharan steppe and woodlands (Sahel region), West Saharan montane xeric woodlands, Tibesti-Jebel Uweinat montane xeric woodlands, Saharan halophytics, Tanezrouft ecoregion. Sulcatas dont occur in the Sahara desert ecoregion were it is hot and hyper-arid. Sulcatas do occur in the Sahel region. The Sahel is mostly covered in grassland and savanna, with areas of woodland and shrubland. Grass cover is fairly continuous across the region, dominated by annual grass species such as Cenchrus biflorus, Schoenefeldia gracilis,and Aristida stipoides. Species of acacia are the dominant trees, with Acacia tortilis the most common, along with Acacia senegal and Acacia laeta. Other tree species include Commiphora africana, Balanites aegyptiaca, Faidherbia albida, and Boscia senegalensis. In the northern part of the Sahel, areas of desert shrub, including Panicum turgidumand Aristida sieberana, alternate with areas of grassland and savanna. Although it is arid for most of the year, the tortoises are underground during that time. Wild Sulcatas spend 95%-98% of their time in their warm humid burrows. During the annual monsoon season (July through October) it is hot, rainy, humid, and there are puddles, marshes and green growing food everywhere. The start of this rainy season is, not coincidentally, when the babies hatch. They stay underground in warm humid burrows the majority of the time or bury themselves into the damp root balls of plants. The babies dont start showing themselves in broad day light above ground until they reach the 8-10 mark. This is one reason why we recommend keeping the hatchlings and yearlings in a closed high humidity enclosure with the humidity no lower than 80% and the temperature at 80 degrees day and night. Keeping them at 80% humidity also ensures proper immune system development and prevents pyramiding.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 01:03:53 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015