Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 21, 2026

Astrochelys

Astrochelys is a genus of tortoises in the family Testudinidae. The two species are both found in Madagascar, and both classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Last revised
Jun 21, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
186 w
Citations
5
Source
Astrochelys
Astrochelys radiata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Astrochelys
J. E. Gray, 18731
Species

Astrochelys is a genus of tortoises in the family Testudinidae.2 The two species are both found in Madagascar, and both classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Species

Image Common name Scientific name Distribution
Angonoka tortoise or ploughshare tortoise Astrochelys yniphora1 northwestern Madagascar
Radiated tortoise Astrochelys radiata1 southern Madagascar; introduced to Réunion and Mauritius

A single extinct species was described in 2023: Astrochelys rogerbouri.3

References

References

  1. Rhodin, Anders G.J.; Paul van Dijk, Peter; Inverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (14 December 2010). "Turtles of the World 2010 Update: Annotated Checklist of Taxonomy, Synonymy, Distribution and Conservation Status" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  2. Fritz, U.; Bininda-Emonds, O. R. P. (3 July 2007). "When genes meet nomenclature: Tortoise phylogeny and the shifting generic concepts of Testudo and Geochelone". Zoology. 110 (4). Elsevier: 298–307. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2007.02.003. PMID 17611092.
  3. "Astrochelys rogerbouri Kehlmaier et al. 2023 (turtle)". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 8 October 2024.