Spider tortoise

Spider tortoise
Conservation status
	; Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Pyxis
Species:	P. arachnoides
Binomial name
	Pyxis arachnoides; Bell, 1827
Synonyms
	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

^ 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. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ "Pyxis arachnoides (Spider Tortoise)". www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
^ http://www.traffic.org/home/2011/7/27/malagasy-frontier-police-seize-indonesia-bound-shipment-of-w.html
^ http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/19035/0

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[Fritz_2007-1] 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. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[2] "Pyxis arachnoides (Spider Tortoise)". www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 2017-12-06.

[3] ttp://www.traffic.org/home/2011/7/27/malagasy-frontier-police-seize-indonesia-bound-shipment-of-w.html

[4] ttp://www.iucnredlist.org/details/19035/0

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