Flat-backed spider tortoise
A species of Pyxis, Also known as Flat-tailed tortoise, Madagascar flat-shelled tortoise Scientific name : Pyxis planicauda Genus : Pyxis
Flat-backed spider tortoise, A species of Pyxis
Also known as:
Flat-tailed tortoise, Madagascar flat-shelled tortoise
Scientific name: Pyxis planicauda
Genus: Pyxis
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Gripso banana prune , used under CC-BY-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Flat-backed spider tortoise (Pyxis planicauda), more commonly known as the flat-tailed tortoise, is a turtle that belongs to the testudinidae family. The various common names for this small tortoise usually refer to the noticeably flattened nature of its oblong upper-shell or its tail.
General Info
Lifespan
8-12 years
Diet
Flat-backed spider tortoise, otherwise known as Flat-tailed Tortoise, largely sustains on an herbivorous diet. Its preferred food comprises succulent plants, seasonal fruits, and green leaves, with an emphasis on fibrous items.
Appearance
The flat-backed spider tortoise is a small, flat-bodied turtle with an abnormally twisted tail, which lends it a unique appearance. Its shell, featuring an olive-brown lining, is covered with leathery, non-scaly skin that appears slightly wrinkled. The plastron, or lower shell, is light yellow and unhinged. Notably, differences in physical appearance due to age, gender, or subspecies are non-existent in this turtle.
Behavior
Flat-backed spider tortoise is a solitary, semi-fossorial species, spending most of its day nestled in leaf litter, surfacing at dusk to forage. This species has a rare plastron-hinging adaptation, protecting itself when threatened. Females are noted for laying single eggs several times a year in dug-out chambers. This survival behavior has effectively adapted to their arid, deciduous forest habitats.
Population
Decreasing
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Testudines Family
Tortoises Genus
Pyxis Species
Flat-backed spider tortoise 
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