California Turtle and Tortoise Club
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Tortoise Calls |
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Yes, tortoises can and do vocalize!
These calls of courting male tortoises illustrate the range of tortoise vocalizations. The recordings were made by CTTC members, and all are of 10-15 seconds duration.
Audio files are available in both .wav and .aiff formats (the latter courtesy of Tom Gleason).
Just click on the format of your choice.
Click on the links for more information
Egyptian tortoise, Testudo kleinmanni |
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Unique mechanical chirruping from one of the world's smallest tortoises. Recording by Michael J. Connor klein.wav or klein.aiff 260k, 12.0 secs. more info... |
African spurred tortoise, Geochelone sulcata |
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Stentorian grunting from the largest mainland tortoise. Recording by Stan Levine sulcata.wav or sulcata.aiff 195k, 9.0 secs. more info... |
Red-footed tortoise, Geochelone carbonaria |
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Clucky! Recording by Brad Morris redfoot.wav or redfoot.aiff 137k, 12.0 secs. more info... |
Yellow-footed tortoise, Geochelone denticulata |
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Mellow! Note the contrast with G. carbonaria above. Recording by Brad Morris yellow.wav or yellow.aiff 127k, 11.8 secs. more info... |
Bell's hinged-back tortoise, Kinixys belliana nogueyi |
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Typical of the vocalizations of smaller tortoise species. Recording by Brad Morris belliana.wav or belliana.aiff160k, 14.5 secs. more info... |
Chaco tortoise, Geochelone chilensis |
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Rarely seen or heard tortoise from South America. Recording by Laura Rico chaco.wav or chaco.aiff 226k, 14.5 secs. more info... |