The elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) can be found across much of Asia, being widely-distributed in southern areas of the continent. It occurs in parts of India, Bangladesh, southern China, Burma (Myanmar), Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia (Kampuchea). Throughout their range, these tortoises can be found in a surprisingly wide variety of habitats, varying from dry forest to open grassland and sometimes even in very arid environments bordering on desert.
Elongates typically measure approximately 30cm (12in) long as adults, with males having a longer, more elongated carapace than females. The carapace is dorsally flattened in both sexes, given a smooth top to the shell, and they also have a nuchal scute here directly above the head. The shell is usually a uniform greenish-yellow to olive-brown in colour, with variable black to dark brown markings radiating from the centre of the scutes.