Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Brown tortoise

Manouria emys

Hermann Schlegel & Salomon Müller, 1844

In Thai: เต่าหกดำ, dtao hok damm

Asian forest tortoise (Manouria emys), also known as Asian brown tortoise, is a species of tortoise found in India (Assam), Bangladesh, Burma (or Myanmar), Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo).

Description

The largest tortoise in mainland Asia; the large adult of the northern subspecies, Manouria emys phayrei, can reach 25 kg in the wild and much more than that in captivity. Shell considerably depressed, its depth not half its length; anterior and posterior margins reverted, more or less strongly serrated; nuchal present; supracaudal shields two; dorsal shields concentrically striated, often concave; vertebrals much broader than long and at least as broad as costals. Plastron large, gular region somewhat produced and usually notched, hind lobe deeply notched; the pectoral shields may be widely separated from each other, or from a short median suture; axillary shield very small, inguinal large. Head moderate; two large prefrontal shields and a large frontal; beak not hooked; jaws feebly denticulated, the alveolar surface of the upper jaw with a strong median ridge. Forelimb anteriorly with very large, bony, pointed, imbricate tubercles, forming four or five longitudinal series; hind limb with very large bony tubercles on the plantar surface, with others larger, conical, and spur-like on the heel, and a group of still larger conical tubercles on each side on the back of the thighs. Adult dark brown or blackish; carapace of young yellowish brown, with dark-brown markings.

Believed to be among the most primitive of living tortoises, based on molecular and morphological studies. This is the only tortoise which lays its eggs above ground in a nest, which the female constructs of leaf litter. The female uses both front and rear legs to gather material for the nest and lays up to 50 eggs deep inside it. She then sits on and near the nest to protect it, and will 'chase' predators and intruders away.

Subspecies

  • Manouria emys emys: S Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo; Type locality: Sumatra. M. e. emys has separated pectoral scutes while M. e. phayrei has joined pectoral scutes.
  • Manouria emys phayrei: N/W Thailand to NE India; Type locality: Arakan; Tenasserim Provinces'. M. e. phayrei has been named after Sir Arthur Purves Phayre (1812–1885), British Army officer in India who became Commissioner of British Burma.

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Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Testudines
Family
Testudinidae
Genus
Manouria
Species
Manouria emys

Common names

  • German: Braune hinterindische Landschildkröte
  • English:
    • Brown tortoise
    • Asian giant tortoise
    • Asian tortoise
    • Black giant tortoise
    • Burmese brown tortoise
    • Burmese mountain tortoise
    • Asian forest tortoise
  • French: Tortue Brune
  • Thai: เต่าหกดำ, dtao hok damm

Subspecies

  • Manouria emys emys, Hermann Schlegel & Salomon Müller, 1844

  • Manouria emys phayrei, Edward Blyth, 1854

Synonyms

  • Manouria emys, Turtle Taxonomy Working Group (TTWG) (2014)
  • Manouria emys phayrei, T.S.N. Murthy (2010)
  • Manouria emys phareyi, Ferri (2002)
  • Manouria emys phayre, Indraneil Das (2001)
  • Testudo emys emys, Peter Paul (1999)
  • Manouria emys phayrei, Roger Bour (1998)
  • Manouria emys, Merel J. Cox et al. (1998)
  • Manouria emys phayeri, Peter Paul (1997)
  • Manouria emys, Ulrich Manthey & Wolfgang Grossmann (1997)
  • Manouria nutapundi, Fritz Jürgen Obst (1996)

Conservation status

Endangered (IUCN2.3)

Endangered (IUCN2.3)

Photos

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Manouria emys
Asian forest tortoise
Manouria emys (Kaeng Krachan National Park)
Manouria emys (under)
Manouria emys (above)

Range Map

Distribution map of Brown tortoise, Manouria emys in Thailand
  • Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kaeng Krachan National Park
  • Khao Nan National Park
  • Khao Sok National Park
  • Mae Wong National Park
  • Yong Waterfall National Park
Range map of Manouria emys in Thailand