Chinese softshell turtle: Where It Lives, Map & Facts

Where the Chinese softshell turtle lives – recorded in 6 countries, with quick facts from Wikidata and an introduction from Wikipedia.

Scientific name	Pelodiscus sinensis
Group	Turtles & tortoises
Status	Vulnerable (Wikidata, IUCN category label)
Found in	6 countries
Continents	Asia, Europe, North America
Class	Reptile
Order	Testudines
Family	Trionychidae

Where does the Chinese softshell turtle live?

Open-licence (CC0 / CC BY) wild records published on GBIF place the Chinese softshell turtle in 6 countries and territories across Asia, Europe and North America. Wikidata gives its range as: Ananindeua. In United States it is listed as introduced (GRIIS checklists via GBIF).

Countries with at least a handful of records (a minimum share of the species’ records, to leave out vagrants and escapes). Records with coordinates only; captive and fossil records excluded.

Is the Chinese softshell turtle endangered?

The Chinese softshell turtle’s conservation status recorded in Wikidata is “Vulnerable” (an IUCN Red List category label). Source: Wikidata.

What kind of animal is the Chinese softshell turtle?

The Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is a reptile in the order Testudines and the family Trionychidae, genus Pelodiscus. (Taxonomy from Wikidata.)

About the Chinese softshell turtle

The Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is a species of softshell turtle that is native to mainland China (Inner Mongolia to Guangxi, including Hong Kong) and Taiwan, with records of escapees—some of which have established introduced populations—in a wide range of other Asian countries, as well as Spain, Brazil and Hawaii.

Populations native to Northeast China, Russia, Korea and Japan were formerly included in this species, but are now regarded as separate as the northern Chinese softshell turtle (P. maackii). Furthermore, localized populations in Guangxi and Hunan (where the Chinese softshell turtle also is present), as well as Vietnam, are recognized as the lesser Chinese softshell turtle (P. parviformis) and Hunan softshell turtle (P. axenaria).

Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Chinese softshell turtle (revision 1371765721), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: lead section excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Quick facts, taxonomy and status: Wikidata Q754028 (CC0). Countries and pin: GBIF.org occurrence records (CC0 / CC BY 4.0).