Astrochelys
Encyclopedia
Astrochelys is a genus
of tortoises in the family Testudinidae. There are two species, both found in Madagascar
and both classified as Critically Endangered
on the IUCN Red List
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of tortoises in the family Testudinidae. There are two species, both found in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and both classified as Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered
Critically Endangered is the highest risk category assigned by the IUCN Red List for wild species. Critically Endangered means that a species' numbers have decreased, or will decrease, by 80% within three generations....
on the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
.
Species
- Angonoka tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora) or ploughshare tortoise
- Radiated tortoiseRadiated TortoiseThe radiated tortoise is a species in the family Testudinidae. Although this species is native to and most abundant in southern Madagascar, it can be also be found in the rest of this island, and has been introduced to the islands of Réunion and Mauritius...
(Astrochelys radiata)