C. mouhotii occurs in Burma, China, India, Laos, and Vietnam,[3] and also in Bhutan and Thailand.

[5] The specific name, mouhotii, is in honor of Alexandre Henri Mouhot, a French naturalist and explorer.

[3][6][7] Phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial DNA has provided evidence that the species is part of the "Cuora group", a monophyletic group of Asian box turtles, and the name Pyxidea should probably be synonymized with Cuora, making the keeled box turtle part of that genus.

[11] The keeled box turtle's upper shell (carapace) has three large, raised ridges and is serrated on the back end.

Females have been noted to dig nests with their rear legs and cover the clutches with soil, and also to lay eggs under fallen leaves.

The keeled box turtle is herbivorous, and eats a wide variety of vegetation in the natural environment, with a preference for wild fallen fruits.

[13] The keeled box turtle is a terrestrial species, and can be frequently found in small caves and rock crevices.

This can be attributed to people capturing it for food and pets, as well as Vietnam legally exporting large numbers.

Although there are other possible reasons behind this population decline, deforestation and hunting have proven to be a major threat to this turtle especially.