YOUR TORONTO ZOO WELCOMES BIRTH OF CRITICALLY ENDANGERED MADAGASCAR SPIDER TORTOISES FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR

TORONTO, ON, Friday, April 9, 2021: Your Toronto Zoo is thrilled to announce two baby Madagascar spider tortoises have successfully hatched. After an extensively monitored incubation period, these are only the second and third hatchings of the species at the Toronto Zoo, the first being in 2020.

The Madagascar spider tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) is a small tortoise endemic to southwestern Madagascar. As its name suggests, this species is characterized by the beautiful web-like patterns of yellow and black lines radiating across its upper shell or carapace. The Madagascar spider tortoise is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Populations in the wild are declining due to habitat alteration and collection for food and the pet trade.

The first egg was laid Thursday, August 13, 2020 and hatched on Friday, March 19, 2021, with the second egg laid Friday, October 2, 2020 and hatched on Saturday, March 20, 2021. To stimulate breeding, the adults need to go through a period of dormancy with reduced temperatures. This brumation phase simulates a seasonal change where conditions are less than optimal for the tortoises in nature. When the tortoises come out of brumation, they are ready to mate. Successful breeding results in a small number of eggs (usually only one per clutch) being laid by the female.

During incubation, the eggs need go through a diapause, a suspension in development of the embryo, before successfully hatching. This is where the incubation temperature begins at 28-30C for several weeks and is then gradually dropped and held at a lower level of 20C for several weeks. This diapause corresponds to times of adverse environmental conditions that eggs would be exposed to in nature when development would be unfavourable. The temperature is then gradually brought up and embryo development resumes. At hatching they weigh around 13 grams, the same weight as two toonies. More exciting news may still be to come as a third egg was laid on Friday, January 1, 2021, which is currently in its cooling period and we are watching for signs of development. 

“This complicated mating and incubation process highlights the delicate nature of this critically endangered species and the intricate care they require from Keepers to thrive,” said Rick Vos, Lead Keeper of Amphibians and Reptiles, Toronto Zoo.

“Successful breeding is the foundation for species conservation,” said Dr. Gabriela Mastromonaco, Director of Conservation Science. “These hatchlings represent the level of care and expertise provided by the talented team at your Toronto Zoo."

“This is your Toronto Zoo living our mission of connecting people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction,” said Dolf DeJong, CEO, Toronto Zoo. “It’s our commitment to support meaningful conservation actions to make a positive difference for wildlife and the births of these endangered tortoises strongly demonstrates that,” he added.

The Toronto Zoo first started working with this critically endangered species in 2007 and this marks the third successful reproduction.

Media Contact Information:

Katie Gray
Toronto Zoo’s Manager of Strategic Communications
(416) 938-5283
[email protected]

Amanda Chambers
Toronto Zoo’s Supervisor of Strategic Communications
(416) 392-5974
[email protected]

For general information visit torontozoo.com

The Toronto Zoo’s mission is to connect people, animals and conservation science to fight extinction and our vision is a world where wildlife and wild spaces thrive.

An iconic tourist attraction and Conservation organization, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day including December 25 and attracts approximately 1.2 million guests each year.

Toronto Zoo is accredited by Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Zoo has also achieved the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Certificate of Good Animal Practice® and is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

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