Radiated tortoises are critically endangered and are listed as a threatened species in the WA (Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Appendix I. The IUCN Red List classifies the species as Critically Endangered (CR). The IUCN bases its assessment on a generation time of 42 years. Over a period of 67 years,
A versatile and interesting beauty Astrochelys radiata is a gentle, sensitive and rather pacifistic tortoise. In captivity, outside the mating season, it is usually extremely tolerant and compatible with conspecifics of both sexes. Hand-raised Radiated Tortoises become very trusting, like to be fed by hand and also to be cuddled on the head. Adult, tame
Distribution Astrochelys radiata is an endemic species and lives exclusively in the southwest of Madagascar. It is found in an area of about 21000 km2 between the rivers Onilahy and Mandrare. Today it still occurs naturally in a narrow belt of land extending from the coast to about 50 km inland. The
Malagasy Radiated Tortoise Astochelys radiata Shaw, 1802 Of the five species of tortoises found in Madagascar today, Astrochelys radiata is the best known. It is considered one of the most beautiful and admired tortoise species in the world because of its striking ray markings. It is the closest relative of the Malagasy beaked tortoise (Astrochelys yiniphora), which can only be found in a