Manouria is either the most basal or second most basal member of the family
Testudinidae (its phylogenetic position is adjacent to that of
Gopherus). As a result, while tortoises are primarily terrestrial, the genus
Manouria is a model for the evolutionary transition to terrestriality, as it still has an affinity for aquatic environments, and has retained some ancestral adaptations for an aquatic lifestyle while losing others. The
Asian forest tortoise (
Manouria emys) has been observed attempting to feed on submerged food items, albeit unsuccessfully. Additionally, the species grasps food item with its jaws as in aquatic or semiaquatic taxa, as opposed to first making contact with the tongue as with all other tortoise species (with the possible exception of
Gopherus). ==Species==