Reptiles
Ploughshare Tortoise
Astrochelys yniphora · also called angonoka tortoise
A forward-curving plate of shell juts out beneath the throat of a ploughshare tortoise, a weapon used by rival males to flip each other over, found today in only a few hundred individuals confined to one small patch of northwestern Madagascar.
Overview
The ploughshare tortoise, Astrochelys yniphora, is a Critically Endangered reptile found only in a small area of dry forest in northwestern Madagascar. Its distinctive forward-curving throat plate, extreme rarity, and status as a prime target of illegal collection make it one of the most urgently threatened tortoise species on the planet.
A shell built for fighting
The ploughshare tortoise’s protruding, upward-curving throat plate isn’t decorative, males use it to wedge beneath a rival and flip him onto his back during contests for mates, a fighting strategy unique to this and a few closely related tortoise species.
Status
Critically Endangered, with only a few hundred individuals remaining, threatened by habitat loss, fire, and illegal collection for the international pet trade.
Ploughshare Tortoise: common questions
How rare is the ploughshare tortoise?
Extremely rare; it is one of the most critically endangered tortoise species in the world, with only a few hundred individuals remaining in a single small area of northwestern Madagascar.
What is the forward-curving plate beneath the ploughshare tortoise's shell for?
It is a specialised plate of shell that males use to flip rival males onto their backs during fights over access to females, a feature that gives the species both its common name and a distinctive fighting strategy.
Why is the ploughshare tortoise so endangered?
Its naturally tiny range has been further reduced by habitat loss and fire, and its extreme rarity has made it a prime target for illegal collection for the international pet trade.
Where is the ploughshare tortoise found?
It is found only in a small area of dry forest in northwestern Madagascar and nowhere else on Earth.