Burmese Brown Mountain Tortoise

Burmese Brown Mountain Tortoise (Manouria emys) is one of two existing species within the Manouria genus, the other being the impressed tortoise, M. impressa. It is known by many common names: the Asian brown tortoise, Asian forest tortoise, Burmese mountain tortoise, Burmese black tortoise, Burmese brown tortoise, and the six-legged tortoise (keep reading to find out the reason behind this odd common name).

Burmese Brown Mountain Tortoise, Considered the forth largest tortoise in the world, adults in wild populations average about 70 pounds, but captive tortoises can reach 100 pounds in total mass with a total straight-line length of up to 2 feet.

There are two subspecies: M. e. emys and M. e. phayrei. Generally, the name Burmese brown tortoise is used for M. e. emys, while Burmese black tortoise is used for M. e. phayrei. In this article, except when discussing one subspecies specifically, I will otherwise refer to these wonderful animals collectively as Burmese mountain tortoises.

Burmese mountain tortoises are found in Myanmar (formerly Burma, hence the common name), as well as Malaysia, Thailand and Sumatra. These subspecies are the fourth largest tortoises in the world. Hatchlings are no larger than a baseball in diameter and are much less dome-shaped than typical hatchling tortoises. Adults in wild populations average about 70 pounds, but captive tortoises can reach 100 pounds in total mass with a total straight-line carapace length of up to 2 feet.