Pyxis arachnoides
Pyxis arachnoides
(Bell, 1827)
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Family: Testudinidae
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Common Name: Sokabato
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IUCN Status: Critically Endangered (CR)
Identification Key
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High-domed, almost round carapace.
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Distinctive spiderweb-like patterns.
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Small and stocky in appearance.
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Light-colored plastron, sometimes with dark spots.
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Short tail, head light brown to yellowish.
Size & Weight
Sex
Carapace Length
Weight (approx.)
Female
Male
15–17 cm
12–15 cm
350–400 g
250–300 g
Reproduction
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Breeds at the start of the rainy season (Nov–Jan).
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Mating occurs after the dry season.
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One egg per clutch; sometimes 3–4 clutches per year.
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Incubation: ~6–9 months, depending on temperature.
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Hatchlings emerge during the next wet season.
Sexual Dimorphism
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Females are larger than males.
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Plastron flat in females, slightly concave in males.
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Tail slightly longer and thicker in males.
Diet
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Strict herbivore: eats mainly grass, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
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Occasionally feeds on decomposing plant matter.
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Feeds mostly in the wet season, sometimes in the dry season.
Threats
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Habitat loss due to deforestation and shifting agriculture.
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Frequent bushfires in dry forests.
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Low reproductive rate and population fragmentation.
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Illegal capture for the international exotic pet trade.
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Vulnerable due to slow movement and low reproductive rate.