Extra scutes or missing scutes is often called split scutes or mis-scutes. This “condition” is technically a tortoise shell deformity, but the “condition” does not affect the sulcata’s health or growth.
Split scutes makes the sulcata unique. It is just a cosmetic deformity to the tortosie shell.
Sometimes sulcatas have extra scutes, missing scutes or combined scutes.
How Many Scutes Does a Sulcata Have?
Sulcata tortoises should have 5 vertebral scutes (in the middle) and 4 costal scutes on each side.
What Causes Split Scutes in Sulcata Tortoises?
There is no confirmed cause of split scutes in sulcata tortoises. It is thought that in some cases it is environmental, whereas in other cases it is genetic.
Split scutes caused by environmental changes typically occur when the sulcata is in the egg. Either the incubation temperatures are too high or there was Ph and/or alkalinity exposure when the sulcata tortoise was in the egg.
In cases of genetic split scutes, one or both of the parents may also have irregular scutes.
How Prevent Split Scutes
Because we do are not 100% sure of the cause of split scutes, breeders cannot prevent it from happening.
The best way to prevent mis-scutes in sulcata tortoise babies is to ensure the temperature during incubation is not too high. It’s also important to ensure that the incubator has a stable temperature throughout the incubation of the sulcata tortoise eggs. Possible spikes in the temperature during the first few weeks of incubating the sulcata eggs can possible cause scute deformities.
The only want to prevent genetic split scutes, is to avoid breeding adult sulcatas that have split scutes or scute abnormalities.
