Manouria impressa (Günther, 1882)

Nguyen, Tan Van, Brakels, Peter, Maury, Nathanael, Sudavanh, Somchit, Pawangkhanant, Parinya, Idiiatullina, Sabira, Lorphengsy, Sengvilay, Inkhavilay, Khamla, Suwannapoom, Chatmongkon & Poyarkov, Nikolay A., 2020, New herpetofaunal observations from Laos based on photo records, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 248) 14 (2), pp. 218-249 : 244

Manouria impressa (Günther, 1882)

Impressed Tortoise ( Fig. 12F )

One individual of M. impressa was observed by D. Lety (WCS Laos) on 1 July 2018 in Phou Si Thone Endangered Species Conservation Area, Xaychamphone District , Bolikhamxai Province .

Morphological characters of the individual from Bolikhamxai Province agreed well with the descriptions of Hendrie et al. (2011), Calame et al. (2013), and Chan-ard et al. (2015). The photographed individual ( Fig. 12F ) agrees with the diagnosis of M. impressa in the following characters: carapace oval, flattened dorsally, strongly serrated; posterior marginals upturned, well-defined growth annuli present on the vertebrals and marginals; head large, upper jaw without hook, snout non-projecting; plastron large with a deep cloacal notch; carapace brown with dark seams, marginals with large black blotches; plastron yellowish-brown with dark seams.

Ecological notes. The tortoise was found on a mountain ridge in semi-evergreen forest with extensive bamboo in the undergrowth.

Distribution. In Laos, this species has been recorded from Attapu, Khammouan, Xekong, Houaphan, Phongsali, and Salavan provinces ( Calame et al. 2013). This is the first record from Bolikhamxai Province. Several individuals have been offered for a sale at a local market in Ban Xong Cha, Nam Bak District, Louangphabang Province; and all these tortoises were said to be locally sourced. As this species is often found for sale on the main market in Louangphabang City as well, they are all expected to be locally sourced turtles from Louangphabang Province or nearby provinces. Furthermore, tortoises of this species are offered for sale in a local market in Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province, where, again all are said to be collected from the nearby mountain ranges. Elsewhere, the species has been reported from India, China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia ( Uetz et al. 2020).

Figures

Fig. 12. (A) Platysternon megacephalum in Mork District, Xiangkhouang Province; (B) Cuora mouhotii in Xayaburi District, Xaignabuli Province; (C) Heosemys annandalii in Champhone District, Savannakhet Province; (D) Siebenrockiella crassicollis in Pathoumphone District, Champasak Province; (E) Indotestudo elongata in Pathoumphone District, Champasak Province; (F) Manouria impressa in Xaychamphone District, Bolikhamsai Province. Photos by P. Pawangkhanant (A), P. Sysouphanthong (B), P. Brakels (C–D, F), and WCS Laos (F).