[4] The remaining tortoises are found only in south western Madagascar, where they inhabit the spiny vegetation of the sandy coastal areas.

[5] Here they feed on young leaves, insect larvae, and even the droppings of larger animals.

When the wet season arrives, the dormancy period ends and the tortoises begin to mate.

The largest threats the endangered tortoise faces are the pet trade, poaching for food, and habitat destruction.

Walker, Ryan C. “The decline of the critically endangered northern Madagascar spider tortoise (pyxis arachnoides brygooi).” Herpetologica, vol.