African spurred tortoise; sulcata tortoise
Refers to the species Centrochelys sulcata, a large tortoise native to the southern edge of the Sahara. Often kept as a pet.
African spurred tortoises grow very large, so they need a lot of space to keep.
A baby sulcata tortoise was born at the zoo.
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal name.
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 蹴爪 (kezume, 'spur') + 陸亀 (rikugame, 'land tortoise'), referring to the spurred thighs characteristic of this species. The exact origin of the name is uncertain, but it likely describes the prominent spurs on the tortoise's legs.