CR

Radiated Tortoise

Astrochelys radiata

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Radiated Tortoise faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for the illegal pet trade, with thousands smuggled internationally each year. Habitat destruction from slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal production, and expanding human settlements has fragmented their spiny forest ecosystem. Local consumption for food and traditional medicine compounds these pressures, while introduced species compete for resources in their increasingly restricted range.

Threat summary

Habitat

Endemic to the spiny forests and dry deciduous woodlands of southern and southwestern Madagascar, particularly favoring areas with Didiereaceae plants. They inhabit coastal scrublands, gallery forests, and transitional zones between different vegetation types, requiring diverse plant species for their herbivorous diet.

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationAwareness & communicationsLegislation

Other threatened species in TESTUDINIDAE

Indian Star TortoiseVU

Indian Star Tortoise

Geochelone elegans

Declining
EN

Chelonoidis chathamensis

Increasing
VU

Chelonoidis vandenburghi

Increasing
Eastern Santa Cruz Giant TortoiseCR

Eastern Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise

Chelonoidis donfaustoi

Increasing

Threatened in Madagascar

Curlew SandpiperVU

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
EN

Montipora calcarea

Declining
Compsophis vinckeiCR

Compsophis vinckei

Declining
Montipora capitataEN

Montipora capitata

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Radiated Tortoise classified as Critically Endangered?
Radiated Tortoise is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Radiated Tortoise faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for the illegal pet trade, with thousands smuggled internationally each year. Habitat destruction from slash-and-burn agriculture, charcoal production, and expanding human settlements has fragmented their spiny forest ecosystem. Local consumption for food and traditional medicine compounds these pressures, while introduced species compete for resources in their increasingly restricted range.
Where does Radiated Tortoise live?
Radiated Tortoise occurs in Madagascar. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Radiated Tortoise?
The main threats to Radiated Tortoise are 2.1, 2.3, 5.1, and 5.1.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.