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The Chinese Soft Shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis), formerly known as Trionyx sinensis^[1], was described by Wiegmann in 1835.

There is a subspecies japonicus which is sometimes erroneously listed as Pelodiscus japonica.

Appearance

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle can reach a carapace length of 1 foot (30.3 cm). It has webbed feet for swimming.

Diet

It forages at night, taking crustaceans, molluscs, insects, fish, and amphibians.

Habitat

With its long snout and tubelike nostrils, the Chinese soft-shelled turtle can "snorkel" in shallow water. When resting, it lies at the bottom, buried in sand or mud, lifting its head to breathe or snatch at prey.

Distribution

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle is found in China, Taiwan, Korea, Manchuria, North Vietnam and Japan. It is difficult to determine its native range due to the long tradition of use as a food and "tonic"^[2] and subsequent spread by migrating people^[3]. The Chinese soft-shelled turtle has been introduced to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor, Batan Islands, Guam, some of the Hawaiian Islands^[4] and California.

Reproduction

17 to 28 eggs are laid per clutch, two to four times a year.

Animal Husbandry

The Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is the turtle species raised on China's turtle farms. According to the data obtained from 684 Chinese turtle farms, they sold over 91 million turtles of this species every year; considering that these farms represented less than half of the 1,499 registered turtle farms in China, the nationwide total could be over twice as high.^[5]

These turtles can be injured if they are dropped or hit, and are susceptible to shell fungus.

Turtles as human food

Turtle soup is made from this species.

References