Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata), recorded as Critically Endangered
Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Critically Endangered

Radiated tortoise

Astrochelys radiata

The radiated tortoise is a tortoise species in the family Testudinidae.

Status
Critically Endangered
Scientific name
Astrochelys radiata
CITES
Appendix I
Taxonomy
Testudines · Testudinidae · Astrochelys

Appearance

The legs, feet, and head are yellow except for a variably sized black patch on top of the head. The carapace of the radiated tortoise is brilliantly marked with yellow lines radiating from the center of each dark plate of the shell, hence its name. This "star" pattern is more finely detailed and intricate than the normal pattern of other star-patterned tortoise species, such as Geochelone elegans of India.

Adults typically have a carapace length of 26 to 38 centimetres (10 to 15 in) and weigh 2.5 to 8.8 kilograms (5.5 to 19.4 lb).

Range and habitat

Radiated tortoises occur naturally only in the extreme southern and southwestern part of the island of Madagascar. Although this species is native to and most abundant in southern Madagascar, it can also be found in the rest of this island, and has been introduced to the islands of Réunion and Mauritius.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Breeding

Males first mate upon attaining lengths of about 12 in (31 cm). Females may need to be a few inches longer.

In crisis

No estimates of wild populations are available, but their numbers are declining, and many authorities see the potential for a rapid decline to extinction in the wild.

CITES lists this taxon on Appendix I. Confirm the current appendix on the CITES checklist.

Radiated tortoise is Critically Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Radiated tortoise, Wikidata item Q630954. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Same genus

Photograph of Angonoka tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Angonoka tortoise

Astrochelys yniphora
Photograph of Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
Photograph of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii

Quick answers

What is Radiated tortoise?
Radiated tortoise is a tortoise in the family Testudinidae — Astrochelys radiata.
What is the conservation status of Radiated tortoise?
Critically Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Astrochelys radiata. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Radiated tortoise live?
Although this species is native to and most abundant in southern Madagascar, it can also be found in the rest of this island, and has been introduced to the islands of Réunion and Mauritius.
Why is Radiated tortoise in crisis?
No estimates of wild populations are available, but their numbers are declining, and many authorities see the potential for a rapid decline to extinction in the wild.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Astrochelys radiata?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Radiated tortoise a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.