Summary :

The wedge turtle is considered an endangered species in the world. It is unfortunately a victim of its scarcity which pushes poachers to remove and traffic it. For years, the largest animal protection agencies have sounded the bell of alarm in order to reduce in an obvious way the illegal trade of this species. This article presents the species within its natural environment as well as the means implemented in its protection.

Presentation:

Astrochelys yniphora is called in French the wedge turtle because of an imposing “Gulaire” forming a spade in front of its carapace like a wedge. It is the largest tortoise living on the Island of Madagascar. The adult males measure between 40 and 45 cm whereas the females, smaller, rarely exceed 36 cm. The record sizes observed in nature, reach 48.5 cm for the males and 41 cm for the females. Its carapace is in the shape of a dome and includes a nucale of very small size or sometimes it is even missing from certain specimens, the outer ones are not widened and the gulaire can reach more than 10 cm in the adult males. The color of the carapace varies slightly according to the age of the tortoises. The young ones have beige skin on the limbs, like head and have a relatively clear carapace with black marks around the vertebral and costal scales.

Photograph of an adult couple A.yniphora and hatchling.

The adults, when have them, are generally clearer because of wear of the carapace. The drill plate is beige but sometimes black marks are found there. The backing comprises black bands around the costal and vertebral scales and often around some outer scales. However, depending on the age the tortoise, it can have a backing completely or partially of cream-beige color. The limbs remain clear colors whereas the head has a dark chestnut color.

The populations reach, according to the most recent evaluations of scientists, 500 to 600 individuals divided in 5 different populations in total freedom. And in the number of clandestine tortoises in the rest of the world, we can estimate about 70. We must thus pay great attention to the species’ evolution with time and set up the means necessary to the population’s development.

Habitat and climatology:

The wedge tortoise unfortunately has a very restricted habitat of a surface of approximately 400 hectares located in northwest Madagascar at the Bay of Baly. Despite everything, its territory includes two regional parks facilitating the species’ development. As far as climate, one could agree that there are two quite distinct season. The first would be the rain season, i.e. from the end of October to the beginning of May when the temperatures are relatively constant and reach an average of 27°C; the second period is from mid-May to mid-October during which it does not rain and the temperatures remain stable but slightly lower. Astrochelys yniphora lives in a very wet biotope composed of thickets, shrubs, bamboos and a little savanna. Also sometimes it is seen on the outskirts of the forest. We have provided, below, a statement of the temperatures, carried out by several international weather sites.

Average temperatures:

Precipitations averages

Way of life:

They have a rather morning or evening activity; in the course of the day they tend to hide. This tortoise, like the majority of the land tortoises, is omnivorous with herbivorous tendency. Therefore, its food is very varied because of the opportunist character of the tortoise.

The mating season starts around November. The males turn the females around, knock them with their carapace and sometimes even turn them over using their Gulaire, which they pass under the outer scales of the female to raise it. During this same period, male rivalry is expected. The ritual is the same; the male must knock and turn over its rival.

 

 

 

The females lay eggs between January and April, from 3 to 4 layings in a hole of 15-16 cm in depth containing 2- 6 eggs. The incubation period varies between 220 and 250 days. Births take place from September to November; the hatchlings measure 4 to 5 cm with a weight of 20 grams (Sean McKeown).

 

Dangers and Protection:

Like each species, Astrochelys yniphora has the predators which are the cause of its decline. As a natural predator, we have, above all, certain birds which attack hatchlings (raptors), wild pigs (Potamochoerus larvatus) as well as a kind of racoon (Viverricula indica).

The tortoises like everywhere, also have enemies that are sometimes forgotten: parasites (external parasitic (ticks…) as well as the internal parasites (worms…). Finally, and to conclude the predatory category, we will cite the largest: man, who is in particular at the origin of its extinction. This species suffers the loss of thousands of individuals for its flesh appreciated by the masses, poaching to use its shell for “artisanal” objects, the “harvest” of eggs because they are edible, savanna fires of the stubble-burning cultures, and local population’s cattle breeding. Today, because of its scarcity and its beauty, it is victim to poaching in spite of international protections.

To protect it, Durrell Conservation manages a center of study, safeguard and species protection. Currently the center raises a hundred individuals with a main goal of studying and preserving the species and despite everything, releasing some into the wild. The species is on the red list of the IUCN, i.e. to be regarded as extremely threatened.