Interpretation Guide Status Danger Threats Population Distribution Habitat Diet Size Longevity Social Family Units Reproduction Our Animals Scientific Name Madagascar Spider Tortoise Updated: January 12, 2019 SSP Yellow Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List) No danger to humans or other animals Destruction of habitat. Overharvesting for black market food, body parts, and pet trade. Wild: Unknown, however their range has been reduced by over 80 percent. Originally found across Madagascar, now only found in the extreme southwestern portion of the island. The spiny vegetation along the sandy coastal area. Wild: Grasses, leaves and succulent plants Zoo Knoxville: Leafy greens vegetables and fruit. Length: Females: About 6 inches; Males: Slightly smaller Wild: Over 70 years Unknown Not much is known about wild spider tortoises. In captivity usually one egg per breeding. On display in Tortoise Territory at the Herpetology Complex during warmer months. Two of our male southern spider tortoises have been at Zoo Knoxville since 1975. Order: Testudines Family: Testudinidae Genus: Pyxis Species: arachnoides Subspecies: Common: arachnoides; Madagascar: No subspecies; Northern: brygooi; Southern: oblonga
Additional Information Our Madagascar Spider Tortoises Madagascar Spider Tortoise (These tortoises have not been identified as belonging to one of the three subspecies. They are often offspring of two of the three subspecies listed below.) Female-1; Male-1; Unknown-3 Hatched: Before 2000-2; 2014-1; 2015-1; 2018-1 Hatched at: Wild Born-Madagascar-2; Zoo Knoxville-2 Origin: Houston Zoo-2; Zoo Knoxville-2 Common Spider Tortoise Female-7; Male-8; Unknown-15 Hatched: Before 1989-2; Before 1990-1; Before 1993-1; Before 2000-4; 2004-4; 2005-2; 2006-1; 2010-2; 2011-1; 2013-4; 2015-1; 2016-1; 2017-2; 2018-2; 2019-2 Hatched at: Wild Born-Madagascar-8; Zoo Knoxville-17; ZK Staff-2; Zoo Atlanta-1; Private Collection- 2 Origin: Steinhart Aquarium-1; Private Collection-5; Zoo Atlanta-5; ZKStaff-2; Zoo Knoxville-17 Northern Spider Tortoise Female-7; Male-1; Unknown-24 Hatched: Before 1995-3; Before 2000-5; Before 2010-1; 2004-1; 2006-1; 2007-1; 2008-1; 2009-2; 2010-3; 2011-3; 2013-1; 2014-3; 2015-4; 2016-4; 2017-4; 2018-1 Hatched at: Wild Born-Madagascar-9; Zoo Knoxville-24; St. Louis Zoological Park-3; Unknown-1 Origin: Private Collection-1; St. Louis Zoo-4; San Diego Zoo-2; Turtle Survival Alliance-6; Zoo Knoxville-24 Southern Spider Tortoise Female-2; Male-4; Unknown-9 Hatched: Before 1975-2; Before 1981-1; Before 1988-1; Before 2101-2; 2011-1; 20012-4; 2015-2; 2018-2 Hatched at: Wild Born-Madagascar-6; Zoo Knoxville-9 Origin: Audubon Zoo-1; Private Collection-3; Turtle Survival Alliance-2 Zoo Knoxville-9 Not all specimens are necessarily on display. Habitat Information Status Danger Threats Population Distribution
Habitat Ecosystem Relationships Predators: Interspecies Competitors: Role/Niche: Diet Wild: Zoo Knoxville: Size Longevity Wild: Social Family Units Reproduction Animal Neighbors in the Wild Caring for Animals Enrichment Behaviors Communication/Vocalization Conservation Efforts by Zoo Knoxville The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), is non-governmental agency, that is working to preserve and protect many of the world's most critically endangered turtles and tortoises around the world. They work in 15 countries to preserve species in the wild, as well as, by working to create viable assurance colonies in captivity to maintain a safety net to prevent several species from extinction. Zoo Knoxville has worked with this organization for over a decade by helping them hold turtles for breeding projects that benefit the TSA's goals along with several chelonian SSP's. We have also worked with them in Madagascar on three separate trips that staff have been able to join them to help protect radiated and spider tortoises in the wild. And finally, we have donated money to their projects in Madagascar, southeast Asia, and most recently by paying the salaries of two new keepers to work at their Tortoise Conservation Center in Madagascar.
Did you know? Few specimens exist in US zoos, and the two males at Zoo Knoxville have been here since 1975. Zoo Knoxville has hatched many individuals of all three subspecies over the years. Zoo Knoxville Herpetology Department was awarded the AZA Edward H. Bean Award in 2013 for its long term breeding program with this species. Biofacts Biofacts may be available for this species. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator for more information. SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN (SSP) It is AZA s cooperative breeding and conservation program. Members agree to manage and exchange animals in the best interest of the species. The mission is to help ensure the survival of selected wildlife species. All SSP Programs fall into one of three categories. Here are some characteristics of each. GREEN These programs are the most sustainable over time. They have a published regional studbook. The population can maintain a genetic diversity of >90% for 100 years or 10+ generations. The species is managed by at least three AZA member institutions. YELLOW These programs are potentially sustainable, but need additional attention to increase sustainability. They have a published regional studbook. There are at least 50 animals in the population. The population is not able to maintain at least 90% genetic diversity for 100 years or 10+ generations. They are managed by at least three AZA member institutions. RED These programs are not currently genetically sustainable. Additional animals are needed. They have a published regional studbook. Current population is between 20 and 50 individuals. They are managed by at least three AZA member institutions. CANDIDATE (PURPLE) These are animal programs which hope to grow into an SSP program. There are generally 19 or fewer animals and/or are held at only one or two institutions. They do not currently hae a published regional studbook. FINAL NOTE Animal programs that manage species designated Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, or Endangered (IUCN-see next) do not need to meet minimum population size and number of participating institutions criteria to be designated as an SSP Program. These SSP Programs only need to have a published AZA Regional Studbook and three defined goals. INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (IUCN) For the past 50 years, this organization has been assessing the conservation status of species, subspecies and varieties around the world. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN Red List) provides information and analyses on the status, trends and threats to species in order to inform and catalyze action for biodiversity conservation. 79,800 species have been assessed today. The goal is to assess 160,000 species by 2020. This includes vertebrates, invertebrates, plants, and fungi and other species groups. Much more information can be found at www.iucnredlist.org. Assessed species are placed in one of nine categories. There are criteria which must be met to place a species in a specific category. This information is available on the website. These are brief descriptions. EXTINCT (EX): There is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. EXTINCT IN THE WILD (EW): Survivors exist only in cultivation, in captivity, or as a naturalized population well outside of its native range. CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR): The species faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
ENDANGERED (EN): The species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild. VULNERABLE (VU): The species faces a high risk of extinction in the wild. NEAR THREATENED (NT): The species is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future. LEAST CONCERN (LC): The species does not meet any of the criteria for any of the endangered categories. There are widespread and abundant populations. DATA DEFICIENT (DD): Information is not sufficient to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of the risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. NOT EVALUATED (NE): The species has not been evaluated against the criteria.