I found this unique creature to be so fascinating that I just had to have one in my personal collection. Only C. amboinensis is so highly aquatic. Also, while most other Cuora - species range outside of the equatorial rainforest areas, and therefore can tolerate lower temperatures, C. amboinensis does not. Carapace is dark olive to black and rather uniform in color. A juvenile will have a flattened carapace with 3 prominent keels.
Adults gradually lose the keels and the carapace becomes more highly domed.
There are differences in carapace shape among subspecies. Cuora amboinensis kamarona has a high-domed shell, while C. a. amboinensis and cuoro have more shallow and elongated carapaces. C. a. lineata has a distinct light colored line on the center keel. Generally, males' plastra are slightly concave. They will also have longer, thicker tails when mature.