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.
Egyptian tortoise, Testudo kleinmanni
Unique mechanical chirruping from one of the world's smallest tortoises.
klein.wav or klein.aiff 260k, 12.0 secs.
Recording by Michael J. Connor. more info...
African spurred tortoise
Centrochelys (=Geochelone) sulcata
Stentorian grunting from the largest mainland tortoise.
sulcata.wav or sulcata.aiff 195k, 9.0 secs.
Recording by Stan Levine. more info...
Red-footed tortoise
Chelonoidis (=Geochelone) carbonaria
Clucky!
redfoot.wav or redfoot.aiff 137k, 12.0 secs.
Recording by Brad Morris. more info...
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 on each species.
Yellow-footed tortoise
Chelonoidis (=Geochelone) denticulata
Mellow! Note the contrast with G. carbonaria (left).
yellow.wav or yellow.aiff 127k, 11.8 secs.
Recording by Brad Morris. more info..
Bell's hinge-back tortoise
Kinixys belliana nogueyi
Typical of the vocalizations of smaller tortoise species.
belliana.wav or belliana.aiff 160k, 14.5 secs.
Recording by Brad Morris. more info...
Chaco tortoise
Chelonoidis (=Geochelone) chilensis
Rarely seen or heard tortoise from South America.
chaco.wav or chaco.aiff 226k, 14.5 secs.
Recording by Laura Rico. more info...