Burmese Brown Tortoise

Manouria emys

Range

• Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Habitat

• Tropical forests

Diet

• Grasses
• Leaves

The largest tortoise on the Asian mainland, this species prefers rainy habitats where the humidity remains high. Although not particularly social, the males will showcase aggressive behavior and vocalizations to discourage rivals.

Unlike most tortoises, this species does not dig a nest. Instead, the female uses her front legs to sweep debris into a large pile, into which she burrows and lays her eggs. She then climbs atop the pile and remains there for several days to guard against predators.