Spider tortoise

Spider tortoise
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Testudines
Suborder:Cryptodira
Family:Testudinidae
Genus:Pyxis
Species: P. arachnoides
Binomial name
Pyxis arachnoides
Bell, 1827
Synonyms[1]
Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides
  • Pyxis arachnoides Bell, 1827
  • Testudo (Pyxis) aranoides Gray, 1831 (ex errore)
  • Pyxis aranoides Gray, 1831
  • Pyxis madagascariensis Lesson, 1831
  • Testudo (Pyxis) arachnoides Fitzinger, 1835
  • Bellemys arachnoides Williams, 1950
  • Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides Bour, 1979
Pyxis arachnoides brygooi
  • Pyxoides brygooi Vuillemin & Domergue, 1972
  • Pyxis arachnoides brygooi Bour, 1979
Pyxis arachnoides oblonga
  • Pyxis arachnoides matzi Bour, 1979
  • Pyxis arachnoides oblonga Bour, 1985

The spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae.

It is endemic to Madagascar and is one of only two species in the genus Pyxis.

Very little is known about the life cycle of this endangered tortoise, which is believed to live for up to 70 years.[2] The remaining tortoises are found only in south western Madagascar, where they inhabit the spiny vegetation of the sandy coastal areas. Here they feed on young leaves, insect larvae, and even the droppings of larger animals.

Their trade is illegal in Madagascar, but they are extensively smuggled [3] for food, body parts, and illegal pets.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Fritz Uwe; Peter Havaš (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World" (PDF). Vertebrate Zoology. 57 (2): 292–293. ISSN 1864-5755. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-17. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Pyxis arachnoides (Spider Tortoise)". www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
  3. ↑ http://www.traffic.org/home/2011/7/27/malagasy-frontier-police-seize-indonesia-bound-shipment-of-w.html
  4. ↑ http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/19035/0
  • Leuteritz, T. & Walker, R. (2008). "Pyxis arachnoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. Madagascar Tortoise Freshwater Turtle Red List Workshop. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 21 May 2014.


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