About Cuora mouhotii (Gray, 1862)
The keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii) has a carapace (upper shell) marked by three large, raised ridges, with a serrated edge along the back end. Its plastron (lower shell) ranges in color from light brown to dark brown, showing various brown shades. This species has a strong upper jaw and a short, curved snout. Its feet are only partially webbed, which indicates it lives a terrestrial rather than aquatic lifestyle. Male and female keeled box turtles can be told apart by eye color and nail size. Males typically have longer, thicker nails and eyes that are either black or brown; females usually have shorter, thinner nails and orange or red eyes. Cuora mouhotii is found in Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), China, India, Laos, Vietnam, Bhutan, and Thailand. As a terrestrial species, the keeled box turtle is often found in small caves and rock crevices. It also occurs in forests, within deep leaf litter.
