Angonoka or Ploughshare Tortoises Astrochelys yniphora. Competitive males, jousting, using gular scute on forefront of plastron.
Ploughshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora). Adult male about to mount a female, showing extended gular on fore front of plastron, or undershell, here used in 'clumsy' for-play in expectation of copulating. Madagascar. Critically Endangered Species. Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Breeding Centre, alongside Ankarafantsika National Park. Madagascar. Rarest species of tortoise in the world. Maybe only 100 to 400 individuals in the wild. This due in part to collection for smuggling to Asian food markets, 'pets', and reduced habitat of tropical dry deciduous forest within northwestern Madagascar.
Size: 5616px × 3744px
Photo credit: © Joe Blossom / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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