NORTHERN SPIDER TORTOISE
Scientific Name: Pyxis arachnoides brygooi
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Physical Adaptations:
The spider tortoise gets its name from the weblike pattern of yellow lines on its carapace (top
part of the shell)
The shell consists of a curved upper carapace
and flattened lower plastron joined at the sides;
it is generally more domed than that of turtles;
their hind legs are stumpy and columnar; the
front legs are often shovel-shaped for digging
The have no teeth; mouth forms a sharp-edged
beak
Behavioral Adaptations:
They do have a good sense of smell, which
helps them find food
A tortoise walks slowly when it moves at all; it
may remain motionless for hours and then may
walk at only 0.5 miles per hour
Tortoises that live in hot, dry habitats use their
strong legs to dig burrows. Then, when it’s too
hot in the sun, they slip underground
Primary Diet:
Wild: fruits, herbaceous and succulent plants
HERBIVORE
Fun Facts:
Also known as Madagascar Spider Tortoise
Tortoises are generally reclusive animals
Tortoises generally have lifespans comparable
with those of human beings, and some individuals are known to have lived longer than 150
years.
Tortoise, a common name for members of a
family of turtles that live entirely on land
Habitat/Biome:
tropical deciduous forest
Distribution:
Southern coast of Madagascar
Status: pop. trend: decreasing
Special Notes:
IUCN Category: Critically Endangered
CITES Listing: Appendix I
Threats Include:
Habitat destruction. Consumption for food by natives and demand for the pet trade
Additional Notes:
Incubation: 220 to 250 days
Clutch: One. In captivity, females have laid up to
three eggs per year
Life Span: More than 50 years
Information Sources (2011)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Animal Facts
www.sandiegozoo.org
www.stlzoo.org
www.clemetzoo.com