[5] During the rainy period of the year, occurring from November to March, Sphincterochila zonata actively feed and reproduce.

[8] The diet of S. zonata consists primarily of the microflora existing within surface soils[7] Of interest in this animal is its resistance to desiccation, which allows it to live in exposed areas in the desert.

[4] As cited from Goodfriend and Magaritz (1987),[7] S. zonata is only active for a few days out of the year, depending on rain patterns.

Aestivation is an obvious energy requirement of this organism in that it is too costly to continuously generate spermatocytes and oocytes for reproduction.

[10] S. zonata is a species endemic to Israel and likely diverged from S. fimbriata (or a similar ancestor) around 1.3 million years ago.