What is the common name of the critically endangered tortoise Astrochelys yniphora?

The critically endangered tortoise Astrochelys yniphora is commonly called the ploughshare tortoise. It is also known as the angonoka tortoise, the name most closely associated with its Malagasy origins.

This tortoise is endemic to northwestern Madagascar, especially the Baly Bay region. Its “ploughshare” name comes from the prominent, forward-projecting gular scute on the underside of its shell. In males, this plate is particularly developed and may help with combat between rivals.

French zoologist Léon Vaillant described the species in 1885. It belongs to the genus Astrochelys, which contains only two living species: the ploughshare tortoise and the radiated tortoise. That makes the radiated tortoise a close relative, but not the answer to this question.

Illegal collection for the international pet trade remains a major threat. Conservation programs protect wild habitat, monitor nests, and maintain captive-breeding populations, but the species remains critically endangered and highly vulnerable to poaching.