Chinese softshell turtle
pelodiscus sinensis latin

Chinese softshell turtles often submerge their heads in water.

Chinese softshell turtles generally live in brackish water.

The Chinese softshell turtle is the turtle species raised on China's turtle farms.

Chinese softshell turtles (Trionyx sinensis)

Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)

Trionyx maackii (Chinese softshell turtle)

The Lesser Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus parviformis) is a species of turtle, found in parts of China.

A variety of the Chinese softshell turtle popular with China's gourmets is called the Yellow River Turtle (黄河鳖).

The Chinese softshell turtle is found in China (including Manchuria), Taiwan, North Vietnam, Japan and Russia.

In 2007, construction started in Wangcun on a large turtle farm raising the Yellow River Turtle (a local variety of the Chinese softshell turtle).

Moreover, the Chinese softshell turtle has been shown to excrete urea while "breathing" underwater; this is an efficient solution when the animal does not have access to fresh water, e.g., in brackish-water environments.

The Chinese softshell turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, is a species of turtle that was first described by Arend Friedrich August Wiegmann in 1835 (as Trionyx sinensis).

The affected reptiles include the Chinese pond turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans, Chinese softshell turtle, Takydromus tachydromoides, Japanese Rat Snake, Japanese striped snake, Amphiesma vibakari, and various Geckos and Lizards.

IgY has also been analyzed in the Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis.

World-wide, the most commonly consumed softshell species is the Chinese softshell Pelodiscus sinensis.

Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)

(By comparison, a common Pelodiscus sinensis raised for food would be worth under $7, and a Cuora mouhotii, sold for the pet trade, around $80.)

Besides fish and crustaceans, turtles (primarily, the Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle Pelodiscus sinensis) have been extensively farmed as well since the 1980s and 1990s.

Japan is said to be the pioneer of soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) farming, with the first farm started by Mr. Kurajiro Hattori in Fukagawa near Tokyo in 1866.

The most common species raised by Chinese turtle farmers is the Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis), accounting for over 97% of all reported sales, both in terms of head count (124.8 million in the 684-farm sample) and weight.

A variety of other species are farmed as well, including the rare Cuora trifasciata, fetching a hefty price (almost US $1,800 per turtle, as opposed to around $6.50 for a common Pelodiscus sinensis, or $80 for a Cuora mouhotii sold to pet trade) due to its rarity and purported medicinal value.