Biology:Impressed tortoise

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Short description: Species of tortoise

Impressed tortoise
In the wild
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Testudinidae
Genus: Manouria
Species:
M. impressa
Binomial name
Manouria impressa
(Günther, 1882).
Synonyms[2]
  • 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) is a species of tortoise. It occurs in mountainous forest areas in Southeast Asia, mainly in Myanmar Burma, southern China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Northeast India.[3]

Morphology

The tortoise species received its name due to the shape and style of the scutes of the carapace.[4] The scutes are concaved or "impressed", which appear similar to stamps.

The species has a golden brown to dark brown shells. Their skin is usually a paler yellow and may have pinkish noses.[4] Adults are much smaller than their relatives the Asian forest tortoise (Manouria emys), with a maximum carapace length of 35 cm (14 in).

Habitat

The impressed tortoise lives at high elevations, up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). The non-territorial species have a relatively sedentary lifestyle with space usage and movement heavily influenced by seasonal conditions and resource availability.[5] Despite a stationary life, the tortoises are most active in environments at temperatures between 12-30 degrees Celsius and 60-100% humidity.[6]

These animals may also play a vital role in their environment by indirectly spreading fungi spores through defication.[7]

Behavior

The primary behavior of the impressed tortoise is hiding, with most individuals spending most of their time concealed under leaves or vegetation.[6] Its behavior is little known due to the small known population; diet in the wild has been observed to consist primarily of mushrooms.[8] While mushrooms compose majority of the tortoise's diet, bugs such as beetles and other larvae could be consumed accidentally in the process.[7] Consuming these extra creatures could further provide extra nutrients and protein to the impressed tortoises. Furthermore, feeding occurs primarily in the wet season as mushrooms are more available from May to July.[6]

When the species is not hiding, these tortoises can be found basking after period of inactivity.[6] The behavior often helps with raising body temperature as well as digestion.

Reproduction

Impressed tortoises usually create large nests during the breeding season from early spring throughout the summer and lay eggs between June and July. A female can lay anywhere from 10 to 20 eggs in a single clutch. At optimal temperatures, the eggs can hatch in 65-80 days.[9]

History

The species is known for being difficult to keep alive in captivity because not much is known about it; although its status in the wild is uncertain, it is eaten widely by local people and little captive breeding has occurred.

As of 2026, there is only one known successful impressed tortoise breeding group under an AZA-accredited faculty in the United States. The society is called The Turtle Conservancy located in California.[4] Despite efforts to help these tortoises increase population sizes, they are still listed as endangered through the IUCN Red List website.[10]


See also

References

  1. ↑ Cota, M.; Li, P.; Platt, K.; Rao, D.-Q.; Stanford, C.B.; Wang, L.; Wanchai, P. (2021). "Manouria impressa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T12775A508518.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12775/508518. Retrieved 19 November 2021. 
  2. ↑ Fritz, Uwe; Havaš, Peter (2007). "Checklist of Chelonians of the World". Vertebrate Zoology 57 (2): 288–289. doi:10.3897/vz.57.e30895. ISSN 1864-5755. https://zenodo.org/records/7511437/files/VZ_article_30895.pdf. 
  3. ↑ "How a chance rescue in Arunachal Pradesh led to the discovery of a new tortoise species" (in en-IN). 2019-06-25. https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/arunachal-pradesh/how-a-chance-rescue-in-arunachal-pradesh-led-to-the-discovery-of-a-new-tortoise-species-in-india-5799621/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Roeser, Abby (August 30, 2025). "Impressed Tortoises Hatch at the Turtle Conservancy". https://www.turtleconservancy.org/outreach/turtle-conservancy-welcomes-hatchling-impressed-tortoises. 
  5. ↑ Wanchai, Pratyaporn; Stanford, Craig B.; Thirakhupt, Kumthorn; Thanhikorn, Somying (2012-10-01). "Home Range of the Impressed Tortoise, Manouria impressa (Günther, 1882) at Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, Loei Province, Thailand" (in en). Tropical Natural History 12 (2): 165–174. doi:10.58837/tnh.12.2.103048. ISSN 2586-9892. https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tnh/article/view/103048. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Wanchai, Pratyaporn (April 2013). "Activity Budget of the Impressed Tortoise, Manouria impressa (Günther, 1882), in Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand". Tropical Natural History 13 (1): 39-48. https://doi.org/10.58837/tnh.13.1.103041. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Pham, Thong Van (July 12, 2023). "First observation of the Impressed Tortoise, Manouria impressa, feeding on a mushroom of Phallus cf. luteus in northern Vietnam". Herpetology Notes 16: 543-545. https://www.biotaxa.org/hn. 
  8. ↑ study of home range size and activities of the impressed tortoise, Manouria impressa (Gunther, 1882) "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". 2012. https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/chulaetd/61405/title=Radio-telemetry study of home range size and activities of the impressed tortoise, Manouria impressa (Gunther, 1882). 
  9. ↑ Brock, Jason (June 2009). "Keeping and Breeding Impressed Tortoises". Reptiles & Amphibians 16 (2). https://journals.ku.edu/reptilesandamphibians/article/view/15951/14232. 
  10. ↑ "Impressed Tortoise". 2021. https://www.iucnredlist.org/es/species/12775/508518. 

Further reading

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

Wanchai, Pratyaporn. "Radio-telemetry study of home range size and activities of the impressed tortoise, Manouria impressa (Gunther, 1882)." (2012). [2]

WANCHAI, P., STANFORD, C. B., THIRAKHUPT, K., & THANHIKORN, S. (2012, October). Home range of the IMPRESSED Tortoise, Manouria impressa ... Retrieved March 26, 2021, from http://www.biology.sc.chula.ac.th/TNH/archives/v12_no2/4-PRATYAPORN%20Proof2.pdf

WANCHAI, P., Stanford, C. B., Pradatsundarasar, A., Tharapoom, K., & Thirakhupt, K. (2013, April). Activity budget of the IMPRESSED Tortoise, (Günther, 1882 ... Retrieved March 26, 2021, from http://www.biology.sc.chula.ac.th/TNH/archives/v13_no1/39-48%20Wanchai.pdf

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