File:Ploughshare_Tortoise_(Astrochelys_yniphora)_(20359393031).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Angonoka tortoise
Sign in to saveAlso known as Astrochelys yniphora, ploughshare tortoise, Madagascan (plowshare) tortoise, Madagascan tortoise, plowshare tortoise
species of reptile
OverviewAI-generated
The Angonoka tortoise, scientifically named *Astrochelys yniphora*, is a species of reptile belonging to the family Testudinidae. It is classified within the class Testudines, phylum Chordata, and kingdom Animalia. The species is part of the genus *Astrochelys* and is also referred to by common names such as Ploughshare tortoise, Tortuga de Madagascar, Tortuga Globulosa Malagache, and Tortue à éperon.
This organism is endemic to Madagascar. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES and holds a Critically Endangered conservation status according to the IUCN Red List assessment from 2008.
Synthesized by Vinony from 26 facts across 6 sources: Wikidata, GBIF, iNaturalist, Gbif Occ, IUCN Red List, Vinony graph. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.
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Encyclopedic overview
The angonoka tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora) is a critically endangered species of tortoise severely threatened by poaching for the illegal pet trade. It is endemic to Madagascar. It is also known as the angonoka, ploughshare tortoise, Madagascar tortoise, or Madagascar angulated tortoise. There may be fewer than 400 of these tortoises left in the wild. It is found only in the dry forests of the Baly Bay area of northwestern Madagascar, near the town of Soalala (including Baie de Baly National Park). A captive-breeding facility was established in 1986 by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (now the Durrell Trust) in collaboration with the Water and Forests Department. In 1996, 75 tortoises were stolen, which later appeared for sale in the Netherlands. The project was ultimately successful, achieving 224 captive-bred juveniles out of 17 adults in 2004. Project Angonoka developed conservation plans that involved local communities making firebreaks, along with the creation of a park to protect the tortoise and the forests. Monitoring of the angonoka tortoise in the global pet trade has also continued to be advocated.
Taxonomy
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Angonoka tortoise” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.