The leading website for Black (Manouria emys emys) and Brown (Manouria emys phayrei) Mountain Tortoises. Learn about conservation in the wild, and preservation in captivity.
The Asian forest tortoise is the largest tortoise in mainland Asia. The largest adults of the northern subspecies, Manouria emys phayrei, can reach 25 kg (55 lb) in the wild and much more than that in captivity.
Manouria is considered to be among the most primitive of living tortoise genera. The species occurs in hilly wet forest; its diet includes green vegetation, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and fallen fruits.