Southeast Asia Chelonians

Impressed Tortoise
Manouria Impressa
Size : Up to 35 cm (Carapace)

Asian Brown Tortoise
Manouria Emys
Size : Up to 60 cm (Carapace)

Elongated Tortoise
Indotestudo elongata
Size : Up to 40 cm (Carapace)

Southeast Asia is home to several fascinating tortoise and terrapin species, of the Testudines order and part of the bigger Chelonian group of animals that are shielded by a exterior bony or cartilagenous shell. A few land species are known from the rainforests of Malaysia, Thailand, Borneo and Indonesia, including the largest tortoise in Southeast Asia; the Asian brown tortoise (Manouria emys), the elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) and the highland impressed tortoise (Manouria impressa).

The freshwater rivers and rainforests also yield some astonishing turtle and terrapin species. The giant soft-shelled turtle (Chitra chitra) is a large behemoth that dwells on the sandy beds of deep rivers. On the other hand, the spiny terrapin (Hoesemys spinosa) is a small but unique species that lives in the deep rainforest, foraging among the leafs and found occasionally wandering along meandering streams. The male 'Tuntung' or sea terrapin (Callagur borneoensis) becomes very brightly coloured during breeding season with a red dash on the forehead, giving it the resemblance of a stroke from a paint brush.

The Impressed tortoise is an uncommon tortoise found from 800 meters and above in dense rainforest. The carapace and overall body is yellow, with dark brown fringes along the scutes. The snout is pinkish and the head yellow. The feet are covered with a large network of small scutes. The impressed tortoise has an unusual diet in that it eats mushrooms almost exclusively, but captive specimens have been taught to eat conventional fruits and vegetation.

The Asian brown tortoise is found throughout Southeast Asia but is known more from lowland forest. In Peninsular Malaysia, it has been observed in the wild up to 900 m in elevation. This hardy tortoise species feeds on vegetation and fruits. Females grow larger than males, which have a concave in the middle of the plastron beside longer tails.

The elongated tortoise occurs in the north of Peninsular Malaysia and is sometimes called the 'yellow-headed' tortoise. This beautiful tortoise has a slim profile along the sides of the carapace though the shell is very much high and rounded on the top. The head is remarkably a bright cream yellow. The carapace is yellowish with a dark smudge on each scute, varying in intensity and reach in different individuals. This species has a very shy and retreating disposition, feeding on fruits and leafs in the wild.

Despite their long lifespans, tortoises, terrapins and turtles have slow reproductive rates besides maturing over a period of several years. Their young suffer a high mortality rate due to predators such as birds, mammals and monitor lizards. This is compounded by the high demand for tortoise and turtle meat in Chinese markets, many which are caught from Peninsular Malaysia and smuggled to Thailand for export to China. Theirs is a plight that cannot be ignored.