The aperture is thickened, projecting internally in two subconcrescent denticles (described by Tryon as "tubercles").

[4] This species presents adaptations to arid conditions which significantly improve its desiccation tolerance.

These snails dig themselves into the soil to depths from 1 to 5 cm while they aestivate during summer in the Negev Desert.

[3] In the vicinity of the Dead Sea, they usually either burrow to depths of up to 10 cm, or aestivate hidden under stones.

[6] The soft parts of the animal's body shelter inside the second and the third whorl of its shell, where the temperature can reach up to 50.3 °C.

Temperatures of up to 56.2 °C were measured and are known to occur inside the shell's body whorl, which is mostly filled with air during aestivation.

[6] Schmidt-Nielsen et al. in 1971[6] estimated their life span according to their oxygen consumption as being nearly 8 years.

[6] The known predators of Sphincterochila zonata zonata are rodents, namely the Cairo Spiny Mouse (Acomys cahirinus), Wagner's Gerbil (Dipodillus dasyurus) and the Asian Garden Dormouse (Eliomys melanurus).