🐾 LandCare difficulty: AdvancedLegal complexity: High — restricted in many states
Ploughshare tortoise
Astrochelys yniphora
The ploughshare tortoise, or angonoka, is one of the rarest tortoises in the world, restricted to a tiny area of Madagascar. Prized by illegal collectors for its strikingly domed golden shell, it is critically endangered and the target of anti-poaching and captive-breeding efforts.
Educational only. KinStation content is reviewed by licensed veterinarians but cannot replace an in-person exam. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or board-certified specialist for diagnosis, treatment, or any decision affecting your pet's health.
🩺 Need expert help with your ploughshare tortoise?
Connect with a specialist near you or ask a licensed vet — never substitute online guidance for hands-on care in an emergency.
Quick facts
| Size | Large tortoise; shell to ~40+ cm, distinctive high-domed gold shell. |
| Lifespan | 50–100 years |
| Native region | North-western Madagascar (Baly Bay region) |
| Climate | 🌴 Tropical |
| Genus | Astrochelys |
Habitat & enclosure
Endemic to dry bamboo-scrub and savanna around Baly Bay in north-western Madagascar, a very small natural range. Poaching for the international black-market pet trade is the overwhelming threat, so much so that conservationists have deliberately marked shells to deter collectors. It is strictly protected and trade is banned; this profile is conservation/education only.
Diet
A herbivore grazing on grasses, herbs, and shrubs of its dry-forest habitat. Captive assurance colonies are fed species-appropriate plant diets by specialists. Not a legal or ethical pet to acquire.
Behavior & temperament
Males use the prominent gular projection ('ploughshare') under the shell to flip rivals during breeding contests. Very slow to mature and reproduce, which compounds its vulnerability to poaching of adults from the wild.
Reviewed and signed off by: KinStation Editorial — conservation profile (pending DVM/biologist review)