About Manouria impressa (Günther, 1882)
Manouria impressa, commonly known as the impressed tortoise, inhabits mountainous forest regions in Southeast Asia. Its confirmed range includes Myanmar (Burma), southern China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Northeast India. This species has golden brown shell and skin. Adult impressed tortoises are significantly smaller than their close relative, the Asian forest tortoise (Manouria emys), reaching a maximum carapace length of 35 cm (14 in). It lives at high elevations, up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). Little is understood about this tortoise's behavior, because only a small population is currently known. Observed wild individuals feed primarily on mushrooms. Impressed tortoises are notoriously difficult to keep alive in captivity, due to the limited existing knowledge about the species. While the conservation status of the species in the wild remains uncertain, local people widely harvest impressed tortoises for consumption, and very little captive breeding of the species has taken place. Humans use impressed tortoises for sale, trade, as pets, and as food. Some regions, including Thailand, have enacted wildlife conservation legislation to protect this species.
