# Angonoka tortoise (*Astrochelys yniphora*)

The Angonoka tortoise is a special tortoise that has a beautiful, dome-shaped shell. It is one of the rarest tortoises in the world and loves to munch on grass and leaves in its home.

- **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile)
- **Rarity:** Epic
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands
- **Also known as:** Madagascar tortoise

![Angonoka tortoise](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Astrochelys_yniphora.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Astrochelys_yniphora.jpg)

## Appearance

The Angonoka tortoise has a strikingly high, domed shell with distinct, dark brown and yellowish growth rings, often flaring at the front edge. Its head and legs are yellowish-brown, complementing the unique, star-like pattern sometimes seen on its carapace. This combination makes its shell truly distinctive.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Testudines
- **Order:** Testudines
- **Family:** Testudinidae
- **Genus:** Astrochelys

## Interesting facts

- Despite being slow, they are super important for spreading seeds and growing new plants!
- Its name, 'ploughshare tortoise,' comes from the wedge-shaped scute on its front shell!
- Male Angonoka tortoises have epic pushing contests using their shells to find a mate!
- Only found in one tiny corner of Madagascar, it's one of the rarest reptiles on Earth!

## Special abilities

- **Ploughshare Power:** The Angonoka tortoise uses a special 'ploughshare' on its shell to flip rivals during fights, helping them win over territory.
- **Camouflage Cloak:** Angonoka tortoises can blend perfectly into their dry forest habitat, staying hidden from danger among leaves.
- **Seed Spreader:** Angonoka tortoises help new plants grow by spreading seeds in their droppings, which keeps their forest healthy.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 35-45 cm
- **Weight:** 8-19 kg
- **Lifespan:** 60-100 years
- **Speed:** 0.3 km/h
- **Clutch Size:** 1-6
- **Incubation:** 180-250 days

## Diet & Feeding

This tortoise munches on a variety of plants, helping keep the forest floor clear and healthy.

- **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Leaves, Fallen fruits, Sedeges, Bamboo shoots
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Madagascar buzzard (*Buteo brachypterus*) — Juvenile tortoises are vulnerable to this bird.
- **Eaten by:** Feral dog (*Canis familiaris*) — Feral dogs sometimes prey on young Angonoka.
- **Eaten by:** Feral pig (*Sus scrofa*) — Feral pigs can destroy nests and eat hatchlings.
- **Eats:** Kandym grass (*Dichanthium annulatum*) — This tortoise grazes on tough native grasses.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
- [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
- [Armored](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/armored): Armored describes animals protected by a hard, external covering or shell for defense.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

## Collections

- [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild tortoises.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Angonoka tortoise?

Compare shell shape, shell markings, head stripes and the shape of the feet. Wear, age and algae can hide shell patterns. Turtle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Angonoka tortoise?

35-45 cm

### How much does Angonoka tortoise weigh?

8-19 kg

### How long does Angonoka tortoise live?

60-100 years

### How fast can Angonoka tortoise move?

0.3 km/h

### What does Angonoka tortoise eat?

This tortoise munches on a variety of plants, helping keep the forest floor clear and healthy.

### Where is Angonoka tortoise usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Angonoka tortoise hunt?

Foraging

## More Reptiles

- [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*)
- [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*)
- [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*)
- [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*)

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Source: [Angonoka tortoise: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/angonoka-tortoise)