Impressed tortoise

Impressed tortoise
A mounted specimen of Manouria impressa
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Manouria
Species:	M. impressa
Binomial name
Manouria impressa (Günther, 1882).
Synonyms
Geoemyda impressa Günther, 1882 Geoemyda latinuchalis Vaillant, 1894 Testudo pseudemys Boulenger, 1903 Testudo latinuchalis — Siebenrock, 1909 Testudo impressa — M.A. Smith, 1922 Geochelone impressa — Pritchard, 1967 Manouria impressa — Bour, 1980 Manowria impressa — Zhou & Zhou, 1991

The impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa), occurs in mountainous forest areas in Southeast Asia in Burma, southern China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. The species has a golden brown shell and skin. Adults are much smaller than their relatives the Asian forest tortoise (Manouria emys), with a maximum size of 35 cm (14 in) carapace length.

The impressed tortoise lives at high elevations, up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). Its behavior is little known; diet in the wild may consist largely of mushrooms, although bamboo shoots are also eaten. The species is known for being difficult to keep alive in captivity; although its status in the wild is uncertain, it is eaten widely by local people and little captive breeding has occurred.

See also

Biology portal

Further reading

• Günther A (1882). "Description of a new Species of Tortoise (Geoemyda impressa) from Siam". Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1882: 343-346.

External links

• Fritz U, Havaš P (2007). Checklist of Chelonians of the World. Website.
• Espenshade, William H.; Buskirk, James. Manouria impressa (Günther 1882): A Summary of Known & Anecdotal Information. [1]. California Turtle & Tortoise Club.