I've seen them do that too! They certainly never submerge themselves though.
American Herping: A Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians in US Zoos
- Thread starter Coelacanth18
- Start date
Family Emydidae
Turtles of the South and West (mostly)
There are enough native pond turtles left to squeeze into two posts; today will cover species mostly found in the warmer southern half of the US, although a few species also range far into the north.
Graptemys – Map Turtles
Status in US Zoos: Very Common
These are generally smaller turtles, in which the females can be twice the size of males (female size dominance is a fact of life for some other freshwater turtles too, like Painted Turtles and Red-eared Sliders). They usually have intricate shell patterns; a ridged or serrated spine along the middle of the carapace; a serrated shell edge; and brightly colored lines all over the limbs, head and neck. Most species are found in the Gulf Coast region of the Southeast, although a few range much farther north and are common up the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes and into Canada. There are 14 species in the genus now after splits, 11 of which were found in the survey; this is a very diffuse group, with the most common species only making up 20% of the holdings.
The following were found in the survey, ordered from most to least common; they range from the lower end of Prevalent (~10-12 holdings) to single holdings.
False Map Turtle (G. pseudogeographica)
Northern (or Common) Map Turtle (G. geographica)
Yellow-blotched Map Turtle (G. flavimaculata)
Ouachita Map Turtle (G. ouachitensis)
Barbour’s Map Turtle (G. barbouri)
Pascagoula Map Turtle (G. gibbonsi)
Black-knobbed Map Turtle (G. nigrinoda)
Cagle’s Map Turtle (G. caglei)
Ringed Map Turtle (G. oculifera)
Pearl River Map Turtle (G. pearlensis)
Sabine Map Turtle (G. sabinensis)
Pascagoula Map Turtle; taken at the San Diego Zoo by @Julio C Castro
Yellow-blotched Map Turtle; taken at Zoo Atlanta by @geomorph
Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) – Very Common
Found in the coastal tidal marshes from Cape Cod down to the Florida Keys, this turtle can be identified with its webbed feet and gray skin with ink-blot markings (and many also have a diamond shell pattern, but oddly enough that one varies). They are strong swimmers, with skin impervious to salt and jaws that can crush snails and clams. It is declining across its range, both for “endangered turtle” reasons mentioned previously – as well as its unfortunate weakness for crab bait that gets it stuck and drowned in crab traps.
Taken at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium by @Lucas Lang
Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia) – Uncommon
It may be ironic that this turtle is doing better in the wild than many other natives, given that its name is a reference to how it was cooked into turtle soup in a past era. Distinguished by its long neck and net-like shell pattern, this turtle is found in Florida and other lowland parts of the Southeast. All of the holders I found are in its native region.
Taken at the Tennessee Aquarium by @Astrotom3000
Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata and Actinemys pallida) – Prevalent
One of the only freshwater native turtles to the Western states, these turtles are also called Pacific pond turtles as they are found along the coast from the Pacific Northwest to Mexico. They are a very “stereotypical”-looking turtle – medium in size and dark in color with a moderately curved shell. Vulnerable to extinction because of habitat loss and competition with invasive Red-eared Sliders, several West Coast zoos are involved with conservation and captive breeding for them. The two populations – northern (marmorata) and southern (pallida) have historically been considered subspecies, but recent genetic research suggests they are distinct enough to be different species entirely. I combined the two in the survey, but based on geography and local conservation work there should be several zoos with both.
Southwestern Pond Turtle; taken at the San Diego Zoo by @Coelacanth18
Turtles of the South and West (mostly)
There are enough native pond turtles left to squeeze into two posts; today will cover species mostly found in the warmer southern half of the US, although a few species also range far into the north.
Graptemys – Map Turtles
Status in US Zoos: Very Common
These are generally smaller turtles, in which the females can be twice the size of males (female size dominance is a fact of life for some other freshwater turtles too, like Painted Turtles and Red-eared Sliders). They usually have intricate shell patterns; a ridged or serrated spine along the middle of the carapace; a serrated shell edge; and brightly colored lines all over the limbs, head and neck. Most species are found in the Gulf Coast region of the Southeast, although a few range much farther north and are common up the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes and into Canada. There are 14 species in the genus now after splits, 11 of which were found in the survey; this is a very diffuse group, with the most common species only making up 20% of the holdings.
The following were found in the survey, ordered from most to least common; they range from the lower end of Prevalent (~10-12 holdings) to single holdings.
False Map Turtle (G. pseudogeographica)
Northern (or Common) Map Turtle (G. geographica)
Yellow-blotched Map Turtle (G. flavimaculata)
Ouachita Map Turtle (G. ouachitensis)
Barbour’s Map Turtle (G. barbouri)
Pascagoula Map Turtle (G. gibbonsi)
Black-knobbed Map Turtle (G. nigrinoda)
Cagle’s Map Turtle (G. caglei)
Ringed Map Turtle (G. oculifera)
Pearl River Map Turtle (G. pearlensis)
Sabine Map Turtle (G. sabinensis)
Pascagoula Map Turtle; taken at the San Diego Zoo by @Julio C Castro
Yellow-blotched Map Turtle; taken at Zoo Atlanta by @geomorph
Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) – Very Common
Found in the coastal tidal marshes from Cape Cod down to the Florida Keys, this turtle can be identified with its webbed feet and gray skin with ink-blot markings (and many also have a diamond shell pattern, but oddly enough that one varies). They are strong swimmers, with skin impervious to salt and jaws that can crush snails and clams. It is declining across its range, both for “endangered turtle” reasons mentioned previously – as well as its unfortunate weakness for crab bait that gets it stuck and drowned in crab traps.
Taken at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium by @Lucas Lang
Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia) – Uncommon
It may be ironic that this turtle is doing better in the wild than many other natives, given that its name is a reference to how it was cooked into turtle soup in a past era. Distinguished by its long neck and net-like shell pattern, this turtle is found in Florida and other lowland parts of the Southeast. All of the holders I found are in its native region.
Taken at the Tennessee Aquarium by @Astrotom3000
Western Pond Turtles (Actinemys marmorata and Actinemys pallida) – Prevalent
One of the only freshwater native turtles to the Western states, these turtles are also called Pacific pond turtles as they are found along the coast from the Pacific Northwest to Mexico. They are a very “stereotypical”-looking turtle – medium in size and dark in color with a moderately curved shell. Vulnerable to extinction because of habitat loss and competition with invasive Red-eared Sliders, several West Coast zoos are involved with conservation and captive breeding for them. The two populations – northern (marmorata) and southern (pallida) have historically been considered subspecies, but recent genetic research suggests they are distinct enough to be different species entirely. I combined the two in the survey, but based on geography and local conservation work there should be several zoos with both.
Southwestern Pond Turtle; taken at the San Diego Zoo by @Coelacanth18
Endangered Turtles of the North
Last day of the American freshwater turtles. The remaining species are found primarily in the Northeast and Midwest – and all are either Endangered or Critically Endangered. Fortunately, all species are legally protected and local zoos have involved in breeding all of them for release into the wild.
Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) – Abundant
A small (3-5 in) black turtle with tiny yellow spots on its shell, this turtle is found all the way from Canada to Florida in a variety of habitats and feeds on a variety of food items. Despite this, it has become endangered for several reasons, including its sensitivity to water pollution and vehicles. There is a breeding program set up for this species in AZA zoos, and it seems to be quite successful as Spotted Turtles were one of the most common native turtles in the survey.
Taken at the Greenville Zoo by @Astrotom3000
Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) – Prevalent
A medium-sized turtle with a domed shell and a bright yellow chin and neck. Found primarily in the Great Lakes region (which is also where the majority of captive holders are) with isolated pockets in the Northeast, this turtle shows little to no signs of aging.
A wild turtle, photographed at Detroit Zoo by @evilmonkey239
Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) – Prevalent
Another small-to-medium turtle, distinct due to its pyramid-shaped scutes. Found around the Northeast, Great Lakes and Canada, it prefers rivers with sandy bottoms and will become dormant during both winter and the hottest parts of summer. It moves far distances for a turtle, and as such it is susceptible to being run over by cars; a solution that is now starting to be implemented for this are under-road channels for the turtles to swim through. Their eggs are also predated by carnivores – particularly raccoons, which feast readily on turtle eggs and are now overabundant in human-sculpted environments.
Taken at the Tennessee Aquarium by @Astrotom3000
Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergi) – Uncommon
The smallest North American turtle, and also one of the rarest. A critically endangered species, the Bog Turtle spends most of its time buried in mud among fens, seeps and other soggy patches in the Northeast and the Appalachians. Only 4 in at full size, it is dark brown with bright orange spots on each side of the neck. There are ~10 zoos breeding this species for release, including the Virginia Zoo, Zoo Knoxville, and Zoo Atlanta which just bred some this year.
Taken at Zoo Atlanta by @ThylacineAlive
Other species in Emydidae:
European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) – Rare
One of only two non-American species from Emydidae (the other is a related species from Sicily). While abundant in European zoos, here it appears to only be on display at the San Diego Zoo and in a couple of reptile specialist zoos.
Last day of the American freshwater turtles. The remaining species are found primarily in the Northeast and Midwest – and all are either Endangered or Critically Endangered. Fortunately, all species are legally protected and local zoos have involved in breeding all of them for release into the wild.
Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) – Abundant
A small (3-5 in) black turtle with tiny yellow spots on its shell, this turtle is found all the way from Canada to Florida in a variety of habitats and feeds on a variety of food items. Despite this, it has become endangered for several reasons, including its sensitivity to water pollution and vehicles. There is a breeding program set up for this species in AZA zoos, and it seems to be quite successful as Spotted Turtles were one of the most common native turtles in the survey.
Taken at the Greenville Zoo by @Astrotom3000
Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) – Prevalent
A medium-sized turtle with a domed shell and a bright yellow chin and neck. Found primarily in the Great Lakes region (which is also where the majority of captive holders are) with isolated pockets in the Northeast, this turtle shows little to no signs of aging.
A wild turtle, photographed at Detroit Zoo by @evilmonkey239
Wood Turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) – Prevalent
Another small-to-medium turtle, distinct due to its pyramid-shaped scutes. Found around the Northeast, Great Lakes and Canada, it prefers rivers with sandy bottoms and will become dormant during both winter and the hottest parts of summer. It moves far distances for a turtle, and as such it is susceptible to being run over by cars; a solution that is now starting to be implemented for this are under-road channels for the turtles to swim through. Their eggs are also predated by carnivores – particularly raccoons, which feast readily on turtle eggs and are now overabundant in human-sculpted environments.
Taken at the Tennessee Aquarium by @Astrotom3000
Bog Turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergi) – Uncommon
The smallest North American turtle, and also one of the rarest. A critically endangered species, the Bog Turtle spends most of its time buried in mud among fens, seeps and other soggy patches in the Northeast and the Appalachians. Only 4 in at full size, it is dark brown with bright orange spots on each side of the neck. There are ~10 zoos breeding this species for release, including the Virginia Zoo, Zoo Knoxville, and Zoo Atlanta which just bred some this year.
Taken at Zoo Atlanta by @ThylacineAlive
Other species in Emydidae:
European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis) – Rare
One of only two non-American species from Emydidae (the other is a related species from Sicily). While abundant in European zoos, here it appears to only be on display at the San Diego Zoo and in a couple of reptile specialist zoos.
Family Geoemydidae – Asian Freshwater Turtles
The Asian equivalent of our native pond turtles, this is a diverse family of roughly 70 species – about half of which were found in the survey. While many turtles in the US have had it rough, the Asian turtles have been driven to the brink of extinction about as much as a group of animals can be; ~75% of the Geoemydidae species found in US zoos and aquariums are either Endangered or Critically Endangered. While habitat loss has contributed to this decline in Asian turtles, the primary culprit is poaching and harvesting of wild turtles for Chinese markets; there, local and Southeast Asian turtles alike are sold for food, as pets, and for use in traditional medicine.
As I did with Emydidae, we'll start with box turtles.
Cuora – Asian Box Turtles
Found throughout East and Southeast Asia, these dome-shelled turtles spend much of their time on land but close to water sources. At least 10 of the 13 species are found here, in varying numbers. The most prevalent in US zoos is the Golden Coin Turtle (C. trifasciata), also called the Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle; it has three black stripes on its shell and a bright gold head.
Golden Coin Turtle; taken at the San Diego Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
The other species are listed below, in order of their occurrence:
Prevalent
Amboina Box Turtle (C. amboinensis) – includes the subspecies Malayan Box Turtle; most common species in European zoos
Uncommon
McCord’s Box Turtle (C. mccordi)
Indochinese Box Turtle (C. galbinifrons) – also called Flowerback Box Turtle
Chinese Box Turtle (C. flavomarginata) – most common species in Japanese zoos
Pan’s Box Turtle (C. pani)
Rare
Yellow-headed Box Turtle (C. aurocapitata)
Bourret’s Box Turtle (C. bourreti)
Keeled Box Turtle (C. mouhotii)
Southern Vietnamese Box Turtle (C. picturata)
McCord's Box Turtle; taken at the Detroit Zoo by @Lucas Lang
Indochinese Box Turtle; taken at the Chester Zoo (UK) by @gentle lemur
Rhinoclemmys – Neotropical Wood Turtles
A group of boxy, largely terrestrial turtles from Latin America, and the only New World turtles from this family. There were 3 species in the survey, all held in a small handful of places each:
Ornate or Painted Wood Turtle (R. pulcherrima)
Spot-legged or Painted Wood Turtle (R. punctularia)
Black Wood Turtle (R. funerea)
Ornate Wood Turtle (R. pulcherrima); taken at Zoo Wroclaw (Poland) by @Arek
The Asian equivalent of our native pond turtles, this is a diverse family of roughly 70 species – about half of which were found in the survey. While many turtles in the US have had it rough, the Asian turtles have been driven to the brink of extinction about as much as a group of animals can be; ~75% of the Geoemydidae species found in US zoos and aquariums are either Endangered or Critically Endangered. While habitat loss has contributed to this decline in Asian turtles, the primary culprit is poaching and harvesting of wild turtles for Chinese markets; there, local and Southeast Asian turtles alike are sold for food, as pets, and for use in traditional medicine.
As I did with Emydidae, we'll start with box turtles.
Cuora – Asian Box Turtles
Found throughout East and Southeast Asia, these dome-shelled turtles spend much of their time on land but close to water sources. At least 10 of the 13 species are found here, in varying numbers. The most prevalent in US zoos is the Golden Coin Turtle (C. trifasciata), also called the Chinese Three-striped Box Turtle; it has three black stripes on its shell and a bright gold head.
Golden Coin Turtle; taken at the San Diego Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
The other species are listed below, in order of their occurrence:
Prevalent
Amboina Box Turtle (C. amboinensis) – includes the subspecies Malayan Box Turtle; most common species in European zoos
Uncommon
McCord’s Box Turtle (C. mccordi)
Indochinese Box Turtle (C. galbinifrons) – also called Flowerback Box Turtle
Chinese Box Turtle (C. flavomarginata) – most common species in Japanese zoos
Pan’s Box Turtle (C. pani)
Rare
Yellow-headed Box Turtle (C. aurocapitata)
Bourret’s Box Turtle (C. bourreti)
Keeled Box Turtle (C. mouhotii)
Southern Vietnamese Box Turtle (C. picturata)
McCord's Box Turtle; taken at the Detroit Zoo by @Lucas Lang
Indochinese Box Turtle; taken at the Chester Zoo (UK) by @gentle lemur
Rhinoclemmys – Neotropical Wood Turtles
A group of boxy, largely terrestrial turtles from Latin America, and the only New World turtles from this family. There were 3 species in the survey, all held in a small handful of places each:
Ornate or Painted Wood Turtle (R. pulcherrima)
Spot-legged or Painted Wood Turtle (R. punctularia)
Black Wood Turtle (R. funerea)
Ornate Wood Turtle (R. pulcherrima); taken at Zoo Wroclaw (Poland) by @Arek
Asian Freshwater Turtles
Today and tomorrow will be a couple of shorter posts covering the more commonly seen aquatic Asian turtles in US zoos.
Batagur – Asian Terrapins
These are larger, highly aquatic turtles with flattened shells found in Southeast Asia. The primary species held in US zoos (roughly a dozen) is the Painted Terrapin (B. borneoensis), which qualifies as Prevalent; it is named for the male’s colorful head. Three other species were found in very limited numbers:
Southern River Terrapin (B. affinis)
Northern River Terrapin (B. baska)
Red-crowned Roof Turtle (B. kachuga)
Painted Terrapins (male and female); taken at the Singapore Zoo by @Zooish
Malaysian Giant Turtle (Orlitia borneensis) – Prevalent
The largest freshwater turtle in Southeast Asia, reaching a length of 2.5 feet and a weight over 100 lbs. This fish-eating turtle has a smooth, oval carapace and a pig-like snout. Like the Painted Terrapin it is held in several major US zoos, and there is an AZA breeding program for this species.
Taken at Zoo Knoxville by @Andrew_NZP
Black Pond Turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii) – Prevalent
Also called the Spotted Pond Turtle, this medium-sized black turtle has yellow spots on its head. Found in the Ganges and Indus Rivers of India and Pakistan, this is one of the more common Asian freshwater turtles and can be found in several major zoos here. The head spotting is more distinct on some individuals than others, as demonstrated by the two photos below.
Taken at the Smithsonian National Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
Taken at Zoo Tampa by @Astrotom3000
Today and tomorrow will be a couple of shorter posts covering the more commonly seen aquatic Asian turtles in US zoos.
Batagur – Asian Terrapins
These are larger, highly aquatic turtles with flattened shells found in Southeast Asia. The primary species held in US zoos (roughly a dozen) is the Painted Terrapin (B. borneoensis), which qualifies as Prevalent; it is named for the male’s colorful head. Three other species were found in very limited numbers:
Southern River Terrapin (B. affinis)
Northern River Terrapin (B. baska)
Red-crowned Roof Turtle (B. kachuga)
Painted Terrapins (male and female); taken at the Singapore Zoo by @Zooish
Malaysian Giant Turtle (Orlitia borneensis) – Prevalent
The largest freshwater turtle in Southeast Asia, reaching a length of 2.5 feet and a weight over 100 lbs. This fish-eating turtle has a smooth, oval carapace and a pig-like snout. Like the Painted Terrapin it is held in several major US zoos, and there is an AZA breeding program for this species.
Taken at Zoo Knoxville by @Andrew_NZP
Black Pond Turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii) – Prevalent
Also called the Spotted Pond Turtle, this medium-sized black turtle has yellow spots on its head. Found in the Ganges and Indus Rivers of India and Pakistan, this is one of the more common Asian freshwater turtles and can be found in several major zoos here. The head spotting is more distinct on some individuals than others, as demonstrated by the two photos below.
Taken at the Smithsonian National Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
Taken at Zoo Tampa by @Astrotom3000
Asian Freshwater Turtles
Day 2 of 2!
Black-breasted Leaf Turtle (Geoemyda spengleri) – Common
The most common Asian freshwater turtle in US zoos, there is a breeding program for this small, comical-looking turtle from the Indochinese jungles. With a beak, long neck and bug eyes they could almost be mistaken for a Land Before Time dinosaur.
Taken at Greenville Zoo by @Astrotom3000
Mauremys – Asian Pond Turtles
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
A genus of stereotypical pond turtles from East and Southeast Asia. These species are heavily farmed in China, and are thus some of the more common Asian turtles in the pet trade. A few of these turtles are fairly common in European zoos and in Japanese zoos, where multiple species are either native or introduced. Comparatively fewer American zoos seem to have them; the majority that do are small and/or privately owned zoos rather than large public collections.
6 of the 10 species were found in the survey:
Uncommon to Rare (4-7 holders)
Vietnamese Pond Turtle (M. annamensis)
Japanese Pond Turtle (M. japonica)
Yellow Pond Turtle (M. mutica)
Chinese Pond Turtle (M. reevesii)
Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle (M. sinensis)
Definitely Rare (1-3 holders)
Red-necked Pond Turtle (M. nigricans)
Vietnamese Pond Turtle; taken at the Tennessee Aquarium by @Astrotom3000
Japanese Pond Turtle; taken at Southwick's Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Four-eyed Turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata) – Uncommon
A small turtle named for the fake eye patterns on the top of its head. Held by a handful of zoos and aquariums; a related species, the Beale’s Four-eyed Turtle (S. bealei) is only held at the Tennessee Aquarium, which has successfully bred both species.
Taken at the Sedgwick County Zoo by @Ituri
Day 2 of 2!
Black-breasted Leaf Turtle (Geoemyda spengleri) – Common
The most common Asian freshwater turtle in US zoos, there is a breeding program for this small, comical-looking turtle from the Indochinese jungles. With a beak, long neck and bug eyes they could almost be mistaken for a Land Before Time dinosaur.
Taken at Greenville Zoo by @Astrotom3000
Mauremys – Asian Pond Turtles
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
A genus of stereotypical pond turtles from East and Southeast Asia. These species are heavily farmed in China, and are thus some of the more common Asian turtles in the pet trade. A few of these turtles are fairly common in European zoos and in Japanese zoos, where multiple species are either native or introduced. Comparatively fewer American zoos seem to have them; the majority that do are small and/or privately owned zoos rather than large public collections.
6 of the 10 species were found in the survey:
Uncommon to Rare (4-7 holders)
Vietnamese Pond Turtle (M. annamensis)
Japanese Pond Turtle (M. japonica)
Yellow Pond Turtle (M. mutica)
Chinese Pond Turtle (M. reevesii)
Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle (M. sinensis)
Definitely Rare (1-3 holders)
Red-necked Pond Turtle (M. nigricans)
Vietnamese Pond Turtle; taken at the Tennessee Aquarium by @Astrotom3000
Japanese Pond Turtle; taken at Southwick's Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Four-eyed Turtle (Sacalia quadriocellata) – Uncommon
A small turtle named for the fake eye patterns on the top of its head. Held by a handful of zoos and aquariums; a related species, the Beale’s Four-eyed Turtle (S. bealei) is only held at the Tennessee Aquarium, which has successfully bred both species.
Taken at the Sedgwick County Zoo by @Ituri
Bulky Asian Turtles
We'll finish up the Asian turtles with two genera from Southeast Asia, all on the more robust side (with a couple of species somewhat resembling tortoises). All 5 species from these genera are found in American collections.
Heosemys
Spiny Turtle (H. spinosa) – Uncommon
Named for its spiky edged carapace, which makes its shell look a bit like a cogwheel. Found throughout the Southeast Asian jungles, this nocturnal turtle eats a lot of fruit and plays a role in forest seed dispersal. A handful of major US zoos hold this species.
Taken at Zoo Knoxville by @Coelacanth18
Yellow-headed Temple Turtle (H. annandali) – Uncommon
Giant Asian Pond Turtle (H. grandis) – Rare
Two of the largest Asian freshwater turtles, these species feed primarily on aquatic plants among the shaded forest lakes and ponds of Indochina. While neither are among the most common Asian turtles in US zoos, a handful of major facilities do hold them. Breeding appears to be a rare occurrence, as the hatching of Yellow-headed Temple Turtles at Columbus Zoo in 2019 was a widely reported success.
Giant Asian Pond Turtles; taken at Zoo Tampa by @Astrotom3000
Yellow-headed Temple Turtle; taken at the Tulsa Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Arakan Forest Turtle (H. depressa) – Rare, Possibly Not on Display
Found in jungle-laden hills of Burma and Bangladesh, this turtle was thought to be extinct for nearly a century before one was found in a Burmese market in 1994. A wild population was eventually discovered in 2009 followed potentially by another in 2015, but this remains a very elusive and rare turtle. There used to be a formal breeding program for this species in US zoos, but it seems to have been largely unsuccessful and few zoos hold them now. There have been isolated successes – notably Zoo Atlanta was the only successful breeder back in the 2000’s, followed by the Turtle Conservancy in California in 2017 and the Tennessee Aquarium in 2023. While the aquarium may still have the offspring on display in the turtle nursery, it’s unclear if anywhere still has adult turtles on display.
Some links describing the Tennessee Aquarium's breeding and the turtles generally are offered below:
https://www.aza.org/connect-stories/stories/tennessee-aquarium-hatches-critically-endangered-turtles
We just hatched a PAIR of the world’s rarest turtles
Sulawesi Forest Turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi) – Uncommon
An enigmatic turtle with a light-colored head, found in cool mountain streams on its namesake island. Only described to science in 1995, some breeding has occurred in US zoos (for example, at Knoxville in 2019).
Taken at Zoo Knoxville by @Coelacanth18
Other Geoemydidae found in the survey (all Rare):
Asian Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys dentata)
Oldham’s Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys oldhami) - signed at Columbus Zoo as C. tcheponensis, which appears to now be considered a subspecies of oldhami
Indian Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga)
Indian Roofed Turtle (Pangshura tecta)
Black Marsh Turtle (Siebenrockiella crassicollis)
Malayan Flat-shelled Turtle (Notochelys platynota) – was only briefly signed at Zoo Knoxville, never visually reported anywhere
And with that there is only one group of chelonians to go...
We'll finish up the Asian turtles with two genera from Southeast Asia, all on the more robust side (with a couple of species somewhat resembling tortoises). All 5 species from these genera are found in American collections.
Heosemys
Spiny Turtle (H. spinosa) – Uncommon
Named for its spiky edged carapace, which makes its shell look a bit like a cogwheel. Found throughout the Southeast Asian jungles, this nocturnal turtle eats a lot of fruit and plays a role in forest seed dispersal. A handful of major US zoos hold this species.
Taken at Zoo Knoxville by @Coelacanth18
Yellow-headed Temple Turtle (H. annandali) – Uncommon
Giant Asian Pond Turtle (H. grandis) – Rare
Two of the largest Asian freshwater turtles, these species feed primarily on aquatic plants among the shaded forest lakes and ponds of Indochina. While neither are among the most common Asian turtles in US zoos, a handful of major facilities do hold them. Breeding appears to be a rare occurrence, as the hatching of Yellow-headed Temple Turtles at Columbus Zoo in 2019 was a widely reported success.
Giant Asian Pond Turtles; taken at Zoo Tampa by @Astrotom3000
Yellow-headed Temple Turtle; taken at the Tulsa Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Arakan Forest Turtle (H. depressa) – Rare, Possibly Not on Display
Found in jungle-laden hills of Burma and Bangladesh, this turtle was thought to be extinct for nearly a century before one was found in a Burmese market in 1994. A wild population was eventually discovered in 2009 followed potentially by another in 2015, but this remains a very elusive and rare turtle. There used to be a formal breeding program for this species in US zoos, but it seems to have been largely unsuccessful and few zoos hold them now. There have been isolated successes – notably Zoo Atlanta was the only successful breeder back in the 2000’s, followed by the Turtle Conservancy in California in 2017 and the Tennessee Aquarium in 2023. While the aquarium may still have the offspring on display in the turtle nursery, it’s unclear if anywhere still has adult turtles on display.
Some links describing the Tennessee Aquarium's breeding and the turtles generally are offered below:
https://www.aza.org/connect-stories/stories/tennessee-aquarium-hatches-critically-endangered-turtles
We just hatched a PAIR of the world’s rarest turtles
Sulawesi Forest Turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi) – Uncommon
An enigmatic turtle with a light-colored head, found in cool mountain streams on its namesake island. Only described to science in 1995, some breeding has occurred in US zoos (for example, at Knoxville in 2019).
Taken at Zoo Knoxville by @Coelacanth18
Other Geoemydidae found in the survey (all Rare):
Asian Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys dentata)
Oldham’s Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys oldhami) - signed at Columbus Zoo as C. tcheponensis, which appears to now be considered a subspecies of oldhami
Indian Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga)
Indian Roofed Turtle (Pangshura tecta)
Black Marsh Turtle (Siebenrockiella crassicollis)
Malayan Flat-shelled Turtle (Notochelys platynota) – was only briefly signed at Zoo Knoxville, never visually reported anywhere
And with that there is only one group of chelonians to go...
Van Beal
Well-Known Member
Perhaps sea turtles?Bulky Asian Turtles
We'll finish up the Asian turtles with two genera from Southeast Asia, all on the more robust side (with a couple of species somewhat resembling tortoises). All 5 species from these genera are found in American collections.
Heosemys
Spiny Turtle (H. spinosa) – Uncommon
Named for its spiky edged carapace, which makes its shell look a bit like a cogwheel. Found throughout the Southeast Asian jungles, this nocturnal turtle eats a lot of fruit and plays a role in forest seed dispersal. A handful of major US zoos hold this species.
Taken at Zoo Knoxville by @Coelacanth18
Yellow-headed Temple Turtle (H. annandali) – Uncommon
Giant Asian Pond Turtle (H. grandis) – Rare
Two of the largest Asian freshwater turtles, these species feed primarily on aquatic plants among the shaded forest lakes and ponds of Indochina. While neither are among the most common Asian turtles in US zoos, a handful of major facilities do hold them. Breeding appears to be a rare occurrence, as the hatching of Yellow-headed Temple Turtles at Columbus Zoo in 2019 was a widely reported success.
Giant Asian Pond Turtles; taken at Zoo Tampa by @Astrotom3000
Yellow-headed Temple Turtle; taken at the Tulsa Zoo by @ThylacineAlive
Arakan Forest Turtle (H. depressa) – Rare, Possibly Not on Display
Found in jungle-laden hills of Burma and Bangladesh, this turtle was thought to be extinct for nearly a century before one was found in a Burmese market in 1994. A wild population was eventually discovered in 2009 followed potentially by another in 2015, but this remains a very elusive and rare turtle. There used to be a formal breeding program for this species in US zoos, but it seems to have been largely unsuccessful and few zoos hold them now. There have been isolated successes – notably Zoo Atlanta was the only successful breeder back in the 2000’s, followed by the Turtle Conservancy in California in 2017 and the Tennessee Aquarium in 2023. While the aquarium may still have the offspring on display in the turtle nursery, it’s unclear if anywhere still has adult turtles on display.
Some links describing the Tennessee Aquarium's breeding and the turtles generally are offered below:
https://www.aza.org/connect-stories/stories/tennessee-aquarium-hatches-critically-endangered-turtles
We just hatched a PAIR of the world’s rarest turtles
Sulawesi Forest Turtle (Leucocephalon yuwonoi) – Uncommon
An enigmatic turtle with a light-colored head, found in cool mountain streams on its namesake island. Only described to science in 1995, some breeding has occurred in US zoos (for example, at Knoxville in 2019).
Taken at Zoo Knoxville by @Coelacanth18
Other Geoemydidae found in the survey (all Rare):
Asian Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys dentata)
Oldham’s Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys oldhami) - signed at Columbus Zoo as C. tcheponensis, which appears to now be considered a subspecies of oldhami
Indian Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga)
Indian Roofed Turtle (Pangshura tecta)
Black Marsh Turtle (Siebenrockiella crassicollis)
Malayan Flat-shelled Turtle (Notochelys platynota) – was only briefly signed at Zoo Knoxville, never visually reported anywhere
And with that there is only one group of chelonians to go...
Nope, covered already:
Family Cheloniidae – Sea Turtles
Famous for prompting a declaration of war on strawdrinkers, these gentle giants roam all temperate and tropical oceans of the planet in search of adventure… or food. Their tapered shells make them aquadynamic, so even for turtles they are quite adept at fast and smooth swimming. Most species grow to a length between 2 and 4 ft; the related Leatherback Turtle from family Dermochelyidae is the largest turtle on Earth, growing up to 6 ft long and weighing half a ton.
While there are sadly no giant jellyfish-eating Leatherbacks in captivity here, we do have 5 of the 6 other sea turtle species present in US zoos and aquariums. Many of these sea turtles are rescues, some of whom get released while those who can’t be live out their lives eating lettuce while humans gawk at them behind glass.
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) – Common
While most sea turtles are omnivorous, adult Greens are herbivores who can often be found feeding on seagrasses within shallow lagoons. Their name comes not from their body color – which is actually variable – but to the green fat underneath its carapace. They have rounded shells and smaller heads. Found throughout the world’s oceans – predominantly in tropical and subtropical waters – this species is unfortunately endangered due mainly to overharvesting for its meat, shell and other resources; this is a fate that pretty much all sea turtles face. This is the most common sea turtle in US aquariums.
Taken at SeaWorld San Diego by @Ding Lingwei
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) – Prevalent
The largest of the hard-shelled sea turtles, Loggerheads will eat just about anything in the ocean that isn’t nailed down. They are found worldwide in the oceans and in the Mediterranean Sea, where they are more commonly seen than Green; perhaps this explains why Loggerhead and Green are at parity in European collections while here Loggerhead trails Green somewhat in holdings. Loggerheads generally have heart-shaped shells, large heads and notably pale bellies.
Taken at The Deep (UK) by @Laughing Dove
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) – Prevalent
Probably the third most common sea turtle in captivity here (though it seems close with Loggerhead), this is the world’s rarest and smallest sea turtle. Also called the Atlantic Ridley, it is found primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and most breed at a single Mexican beach. At least hundreds were impacted by the BP oil spill in 2010.
Taken at the Mote Marine Laboratory (Florida) by @SusScrofa
Hawksbill Sea Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) – Rare
Found in only a handful of US facilities, this warm-climate sea turtle can be told apart by its sharp curved beak and serrated shell edge. They feed primarily on sponges around lagoons and coral reefs; I’m not sure if this has any import to the captive population or their diet.
Taken at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium by @TinoPup
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) – Rare
Also called the Pacific Ridley, this turtle is most commonly seen along the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America (though it ranges across much of the world). The only US holder is the Aquarium of the Pacific in California, which holds two individuals. It is somewhat ironic that Olive Ridley is the rarest sea turtle in captivity here, given that it has historically been considered the most abundant sea turtle in the wild.
Taken at the Aquarium of the Pacific by @Coelacanth18
The final group has a (stereotypically) opposite affinity to water.
Sea turtles have already been posted (Page 23)
Family Testudinidae – Tortoises
The most widespread family of chelonians in US zoos, with ~470 holdings in the survey for 30+ species. Famously land-based, long-lived and slow-moving, these fairly low-maintenance reptiles are widely popular in zoos of all sizes and locations – an easy animal to fill in a small vacant plot of grass or dirt. These herbivorous tanks are found across five continents and several offshore islands. There will be 5 posts over the next couple weeks for this final family - ordered mainly by geography.
Today we'll cover just one genus – the one that started it all!
Testudo – Mediterranean Tortoises
These are small tortoises at below and up to ~1 ft long, found in Europe, North Africa and West Asia. These are among the most commonly seen tortoises for sale as pets here, probably due to their manageable size. The genus has 5 species, all of which are present in captivity here.
Egyptian Tortoise (T. kleinmanni) – Prevalent (AZA) / Rare (outside AZA)
The most common species in the survey was the critically endangered Egyptian Tortoise, the choice Testudo species for AZA zoos since there is a breeding program for them. Once found along the Libyan and Egyptian coast into the Negev Desert of Israel, it is sadly almost or completely extinct in its namesake country.
Taken at the Sedgwick County Zoo by @Ituri
Russian Tortoise (T. horsfieldii) – Prevalent to Common (outside AZA) / Rare (AZA)
Meanwhile, the main Testudo of choice for small, unaccredited, private and/or country zoos is this one – which anecdotally is the species I generally see in pet stores. These tortoises have four claws on each foot (rather than the five seen on other Testudo) and judging from pictures has a flatter/lower carapace than Egyptian.
Taken at the Popcorn Park Zoo by @red river hog
The other three species of Testudo in the survey were:
Greek Tortoise (T. graeca) – Uncommon. Often called Spur-thighed Tortoise, but not to be confused with the (very different) African Spur-thighed Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) which will be discussed tomorrow.
Hermann’s Tortoise (T. hermanni) – Rare to Uncommon
Marginated Tortoise (T. marginata) – Rare
Greek Tortoise; taken at the London Zoo by @pendraig_milnerae
The most widespread family of chelonians in US zoos, with ~470 holdings in the survey for 30+ species. Famously land-based, long-lived and slow-moving, these fairly low-maintenance reptiles are widely popular in zoos of all sizes and locations – an easy animal to fill in a small vacant plot of grass or dirt. These herbivorous tanks are found across five continents and several offshore islands. There will be 5 posts over the next couple weeks for this final family - ordered mainly by geography.
Today we'll cover just one genus – the one that started it all!
Testudo – Mediterranean Tortoises
These are small tortoises at below and up to ~1 ft long, found in Europe, North Africa and West Asia. These are among the most commonly seen tortoises for sale as pets here, probably due to their manageable size. The genus has 5 species, all of which are present in captivity here.
Egyptian Tortoise (T. kleinmanni) – Prevalent (AZA) / Rare (outside AZA)
The most common species in the survey was the critically endangered Egyptian Tortoise, the choice Testudo species for AZA zoos since there is a breeding program for them. Once found along the Libyan and Egyptian coast into the Negev Desert of Israel, it is sadly almost or completely extinct in its namesake country.
Taken at the Sedgwick County Zoo by @Ituri
Russian Tortoise (T. horsfieldii) – Prevalent to Common (outside AZA) / Rare (AZA)
Meanwhile, the main Testudo of choice for small, unaccredited, private and/or country zoos is this one – which anecdotally is the species I generally see in pet stores. These tortoises have four claws on each foot (rather than the five seen on other Testudo) and judging from pictures has a flatter/lower carapace than Egyptian.
Taken at the Popcorn Park Zoo by @red river hog
The other three species of Testudo in the survey were:
Greek Tortoise (T. graeca) – Uncommon. Often called Spur-thighed Tortoise, but not to be confused with the (very different) African Spur-thighed Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) which will be discussed tomorrow.
Hermann’s Tortoise (T. hermanni) – Rare to Uncommon
Marginated Tortoise (T. marginata) – Rare
Greek Tortoise; taken at the London Zoo by @pendraig_milnerae
African Tortoises
This post will be covering tortoises from the African mainland. Excluding the Greek and Egyptian tortoises from yesterday, there were 7 other mainland African species in the survey.
Note that the "mainland" part will exclude both the tortoises of Madagascar (to be discussed tomorrow) and the Aldabra Giant Tortoise from offshore islands, which will be covered next week.
Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) – Abundant
This adorably small and flat tortoise is found in the thorn scrub and savannas of East Africa. Critically endangered and once overharvested by the pet trade, there is a successful captive breeding program for this species in US zoos and it is currently one of the most common species around.
Taken at the Tulsa Zoo by @Coelacanth18
African Spurred Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) – Abundant
Also called the Sulcata Tortoise, this is the third largest tortoise in the world at up to ~3 ft in length. Native to the Sahel – a semiarid grassland-scrub belt on the edge of the Sahara – these spur-legged tortoises are effectively impervious once they reach a certain size. The males will joust for mates using the forked plastron (shell bottom) sticking out from below their neck; indeed a leading cause of adult deaths appears to be males getting flipped on their back during fights and then expiring days later after failing to flip back up. Like most tortoises they are an endangered species, with overharvesting, wildfire and competition with cattle potentially all to blame.
This is one of the most abundant tortoise species in US zoos, being both popular with major facilities and widely available to small country zoos and safari parks.
Taken at Pete's Safari (Nebraska) by @MGolka
Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) – Very Common to Abundant
Another large tortoise, named for the black blotching on its shell (though this fades over time in adults). This is another species that can be commonly found in zoos of all sizes and management types. Unusually this tortoise seems fairly secure in the wild. Despite this, both Leopard and Sulcata Tortoises have been illegal to import to the US for over 20 years – the reason being that they are a known vector for a tick that carries heartwater disease, a deadly infectious pathogen for livestock. Captive breeding will be required to sustain these two species into the next century.
Taken at the Omaha Zoo by @Milwaukee Man
Kinixys – Hingeback Tortoises
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
A genus of small, stocky tortoises; some are found in the same grassy or brushy habitats as the species above, while others are found beneath the canopies of forests and plantations. The primary species kept in the US is Home’s Hingeback Tortoise (K. homeana), with very small numbers of these three other species:
Bell’s Hingeback Tortoise (K. belliana)
Forest Hingeback Tortoise (K. erosa)
Speke’s Hingeback Tortoise (K. spekei)
Home's Hingeback; taken at the Paignton Zoo (UK) by @gentle lemur
Other African tortoises in the survey:
Speckled Cape Tortoise (or Speckled Padloper) (Chersobius signatus) – Rare. The only survey finding for a group of small African tortoises called padlopers, which are rare in European zoos and almost absent from zoos in the US.
This post will be covering tortoises from the African mainland. Excluding the Greek and Egyptian tortoises from yesterday, there were 7 other mainland African species in the survey.
Note that the "mainland" part will exclude both the tortoises of Madagascar (to be discussed tomorrow) and the Aldabra Giant Tortoise from offshore islands, which will be covered next week.
Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) – Abundant
This adorably small and flat tortoise is found in the thorn scrub and savannas of East Africa. Critically endangered and once overharvested by the pet trade, there is a successful captive breeding program for this species in US zoos and it is currently one of the most common species around.
Taken at the Tulsa Zoo by @Coelacanth18
African Spurred Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) – Abundant
Also called the Sulcata Tortoise, this is the third largest tortoise in the world at up to ~3 ft in length. Native to the Sahel – a semiarid grassland-scrub belt on the edge of the Sahara – these spur-legged tortoises are effectively impervious once they reach a certain size. The males will joust for mates using the forked plastron (shell bottom) sticking out from below their neck; indeed a leading cause of adult deaths appears to be males getting flipped on their back during fights and then expiring days later after failing to flip back up. Like most tortoises they are an endangered species, with overharvesting, wildfire and competition with cattle potentially all to blame.
This is one of the most abundant tortoise species in US zoos, being both popular with major facilities and widely available to small country zoos and safari parks.
Taken at Pete's Safari (Nebraska) by @MGolka
Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) – Very Common to Abundant
Another large tortoise, named for the black blotching on its shell (though this fades over time in adults). This is another species that can be commonly found in zoos of all sizes and management types. Unusually this tortoise seems fairly secure in the wild. Despite this, both Leopard and Sulcata Tortoises have been illegal to import to the US for over 20 years – the reason being that they are a known vector for a tick that carries heartwater disease, a deadly infectious pathogen for livestock. Captive breeding will be required to sustain these two species into the next century.
Taken at the Omaha Zoo by @Milwaukee Man
Kinixys – Hingeback Tortoises
Status in US Zoos: Prevalent
A genus of small, stocky tortoises; some are found in the same grassy or brushy habitats as the species above, while others are found beneath the canopies of forests and plantations. The primary species kept in the US is Home’s Hingeback Tortoise (K. homeana), with very small numbers of these three other species:
Bell’s Hingeback Tortoise (K. belliana)
Forest Hingeback Tortoise (K. erosa)
Speke’s Hingeback Tortoise (K. spekei)
Home's Hingeback; taken at the Paignton Zoo (UK) by @gentle lemur
Other African tortoises in the survey:
Speckled Cape Tortoise (or Speckled Padloper) (Chersobius signatus) – Rare. The only survey finding for a group of small African tortoises called padlopers, which are rare in European zoos and almost absent from zoos in the US.
I did see this species at Zoo Knoxville in 2021 and I believe they still have them.
King of Komodo Dragons
Well-Known Member
Which US zoos have Speckled Padloper?
Glad someone got to
they were signed when I visited in late 2021, but unfortunately I didn't see any. From what I've been able to tell, they were no longer signed by sometime in 2022; it's definitely possible that they are still there though, maybe even on display again.Only Knoxville from what I've been able to find.
Malagasy Tortoises
There are two genera and four species of tortoise native to Madagascar, all of which were found in the survey. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows the general status of wildlife on this famous island that all four species are critically endangered, and as with lemurs a lot of conservation efforts have been focused on these tortoises.
Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) – Abundant (AZA) / Rare (outside AZA)
This is the most ubiquitous and successful Malagasy tortoise in US captive collections, with over 300 tortoises kept by 45+ zoos around the country. This medium-sized (~1 ft) tortoise is renowned for its beautiful shell pattern, with yellow lines radiating from the center of each shell plate; unfortunately this natural beauty has caused it to be much sought after by animal collectors and illegal trafficking continues to be a huge issue for this species today. As with most tortoises they can be incredibly long-lived, with one individual having possibly lived to 188 years old (though this is unverified).
Taken at the Indianapolis Zoo by @Grizzly Hound
Ploughshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora) – Rare
Also called the angonoka tortoise, this is a similar and closely related species to the Radiated Tortoise; it has been plagued by similar issues of wildlife trafficking as well, and having already been more limited in range it is now one of the rarest chelonians in the world. An in-situ captive breeding project (organized and managed by the UK's Durrell Trust) has been moderately successful.
Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) – Very Common (AZA) / Rare (outside AZA)
Another eye-catching tortoise, named for the supposed web-like starburst pattern on its shell (although this seems to be variable by individual). A significantly smaller species than the Astrochelys tortoises (about 1/3 the size of a Radiated) it is another successful tortoise species in US zoos – not as common as Radiated, but still one of the more commonly seen species in larger and mid-sized zoos here. There are three subspecies – nominate, northern and southern – and it appears that all three are kept and managed in captivity here.
Taken at the Sacramento Zoo by @Great Argus
The similar Flat-backed Spider Tortoise (P. planicauda) – also called the Flat-tailed Tortoise – is Uncommon, though also actively managed and bred. While the patterning is similar, as its name suggests it has a flatter carapace and tail compared to arachnoides.
Taken at the Dallas Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
There are two genera and four species of tortoise native to Madagascar, all of which were found in the survey. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows the general status of wildlife on this famous island that all four species are critically endangered, and as with lemurs a lot of conservation efforts have been focused on these tortoises.
Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata) – Abundant (AZA) / Rare (outside AZA)
This is the most ubiquitous and successful Malagasy tortoise in US captive collections, with over 300 tortoises kept by 45+ zoos around the country. This medium-sized (~1 ft) tortoise is renowned for its beautiful shell pattern, with yellow lines radiating from the center of each shell plate; unfortunately this natural beauty has caused it to be much sought after by animal collectors and illegal trafficking continues to be a huge issue for this species today. As with most tortoises they can be incredibly long-lived, with one individual having possibly lived to 188 years old (though this is unverified).
Taken at the Indianapolis Zoo by @Grizzly Hound
Ploughshare Tortoise (Astrochelys yniphora) – Rare
Also called the angonoka tortoise, this is a similar and closely related species to the Radiated Tortoise; it has been plagued by similar issues of wildlife trafficking as well, and having already been more limited in range it is now one of the rarest chelonians in the world. An in-situ captive breeding project (organized and managed by the UK's Durrell Trust) has been moderately successful.
Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides) – Very Common (AZA) / Rare (outside AZA)
Another eye-catching tortoise, named for the supposed web-like starburst pattern on its shell (although this seems to be variable by individual). A significantly smaller species than the Astrochelys tortoises (about 1/3 the size of a Radiated) it is another successful tortoise species in US zoos – not as common as Radiated, but still one of the more commonly seen species in larger and mid-sized zoos here. There are three subspecies – nominate, northern and southern – and it appears that all three are kept and managed in captivity here.
Taken at the Sacramento Zoo by @Great Argus
The similar Flat-backed Spider Tortoise (P. planicauda) – also called the Flat-tailed Tortoise – is Uncommon, though also actively managed and bred. While the patterning is similar, as its name suggests it has a flatter carapace and tail compared to arachnoides.
Taken at the Dallas Zoo by @Ding Lingwei
Zoo Knoxville, for one.
Source - Ploughshare Tortoise - Zoo Knoxville
They are a leader in chelonian and especially tortoise conservation and have proudly advertised this at least since 2014 when I visited. They continue to do so with their new ARC complex.