Red-Footed Tortoise
CR

Red-Footed Tortoise

Chelonoidis carbonarius

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-footed_tortoise

Overview

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

The Red-Footed Tortoise faces severe population declines across its range due to intensive hunting for food and the illegal pet trade, combined with widespread habitat destruction from deforestation and agricultural expansion. Large-scale collection of adults for consumption has dramatically reduced breeding populations, while habitat fragmentation isolates remaining groups and prevents natural population recovery.

Threat summary

Habitat

Inhabits tropical rainforests, dry forests, savannas, and scrublands across South America, from sea level to approximately 1,500m elevation. Prefers areas with dense vegetation cover, fallen logs, and leaf litter that provide shelter and foraging opportunities.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Frequently asked questions

Why is Red-Footed Tortoise classified as Critically Endangered?
Red-Footed 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 Red-Footed Tortoise faces severe population declines across its range due to intensive hunting for food and the illegal pet trade, combined with widespread habitat destruction from deforestation and agricultural expansion. Large-scale collection of adults for consumption has dramatically reduced breeding populations, while habitat fragmentation isolates remaining groups and prevents natural population recovery.
Where does Red-Footed Tortoise live?
Red-Footed Tortoise occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Red-Footed Tortoise?
The main threats to Red-Footed Tortoise are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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