Chinese Softshell Turtle

Turtles of the family Trionychidae are called "softshell" because their carapaces lack horny scutes (scales), though the spiny softshell, Apalone spinifera, does have some scale-like projections, to which its common name refers. The carapace is leathery and pliable, particularly at the sides. The central part of the carapace has a layer of solid bone beneath it, as in other turtles, but this is absent at the outer edges.

• Singular: softshell turtle

• Plural: softshell turtles

The "typical" hard-shelled turtle and the Chinese softshell turtle have rather different appearances. Their carapace, or shell, was flattened, oval, and leathery, not rigid or scuted, with darker mottling in shades of olive green, brown, or gray with flexible edges that bent when handled, in contrast to other turtles. In contrast to hard-shelled turtles, the plastron (underside) had a reduced bone structure and was pale yellow to white in color. The head and neck were long and flexible, with sharp beak-like jaws (no teeth) and a snorkel-like nose with two nostrils at the tip. Strong, webbed feet with claws make up the softshell turtle's limbs, particularly in males.

Chinese softshell turtles are measured by the length of their carapace, which is normally between 18 and 25 cm, while some large individuals may be larger than 30 cm.

Because of their powerful, paddle-like limbs, streamlined, flattened bodies, and ability to leap forward quickly to ambush prey, Chinese softshell turtles are exceptional swimmers. Only their snout and eyes are visible when they bury themselves in mud or sand. The Chinese softshell turtle often submerges its head in water. With its long snout and tubelike nostrils, the Chinese softshell 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. Its basking habit is not well developed.

This is because the species carries a gene which produces a protein that allows it to secrete urea from their mouths. This adaptation helps it to survive in brackish water by making it possible for it to excrete urea without drinking too much salty water. Rather than eliminating urea by urinating through its cloaca as most turtles do, which involves significant water loss, it simply rinses its mouth in the water.

This species' unique respiration allows for lengthy submersion (many hours) and the absorption of oxygen through the skin and throat lining. Compared to most hard-shelled turtles, they are much more nimble. When provoked, certain populations of Chinese softshell turtle are capable of excreting a foul smelling fluid from pores on the anterior edge of their shells. 

In Rapunzel's universe, the opponent gets drenched when the terrapin shoots a tiny stream of water out of its mouth.

Fish, crustaceans, mollusks, insects, and marsh plant seeds have all been discovered in the stomachs of Chinese softshell turtles, which are mostly carnivorous. This turtle's role in the ecology includes controlling fish and invertebrate populations, acting as a scavenger and predator, and having eggs and juveniles that are eaten by fish, birds, and mammals.

Reproduction

• Breeding season: Spring to early summer

• Nesting: Females lay eggs on sandy riverbanks or lakeshores

• Clutch size: 10–30 eggs per clutch and multiple clutches per year possible

• Incubation: ~45–60 days

• Sex determination: Temperature-dependent

• Maturity: 4–6 years

• Softshell turtle hatchlings are highly vulnerable and suffer high mortality.

Chinese softshell turtles are primarily solitary and diurnal, however they may be active at dark. They are quite defensive and can be aggressive when attacked because of their strong jaws. When handled, a softshell turtle will extend its long neck and administer a painful, lightning-fast bite, in contrast to a hard-shell turtle that withdraws inside its shell. In a social sense, these turtles are not "friendly." They live alone and see people mostly as a threat.

The Chinese softshell turtle is a vulnerable species, threatened by disease, habitat loss, and collection for food such as turtle soup. Additionally, millions are now farmed, especially in China, to support the food industry, and it is the world's most economically important turtle. Many Koreans, even today, generally have a taboo against eating turtles which has origins in native Korean shamanism.

According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) and DENR Administrative Order No. 2019-09, also known as the Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and its categories, the Chinese softshell turtle is classified as Other Wildlife Species. Because they may have been cargo stowaways in the pre-colonial or mostly modern food trade, softshell turtles are regarded as invasive species in the Philippines.

Due to their usage as food, in traditional medicine, and as pets, softshell turtles have moved outside of their natural area. When pet owners realize they can no longer care for them, individuals who were bought as pets have been released into the wild.

In a 2018 interview with Le Monde, Nintendo character designer Yōichi Kotabe stated that the Chinese softshell turtle inspired the design for Bowser, the main antagonist of the Mario franchise. Kotabe chose the species because of its aggressive nature.

Particularly in China, this species has strong cultural ties. Chinese mythology, traditional Chinese medicine, and traditional Chinese food all highlight the softshell turtle's cultural significance as a symbol of strength, longevity, and masculinity. Idioms and historical writings contain the character 鳖 (biē). Generally speaking, no, unless sacred connotations are trivialized and cultural icons are exploited wrongly or mockingly (apart from the Mario franchise). The animal is misrepresented in order to disrespectfully market goods.

Threats

• Overharvesting for:

  • Food

  • Traditional medicine

• Habitat destruction (pollution, dams, wetland loss).

• Invasive populations outside native range.

• Hybridization with other softshell species.

• Introduced predators (rats, cats).

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable (VU)

Conservation Efforts

• Massive captive farming masks wild population decline.

• Some countries restrict wild capture.

• Habitat protection.

• Anti-poaching enforcement.

• Rescue and rehabilitation centers.

• Awareness campaigns against illegal pet trade.

Conservation Success

• Captive breeding programs worldwide.

• Rewilding projects on other areas in China.

The Chinese softshell turtle is native to Taiwan and China, where it is found in Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hong Kong, Hubei, Hunan, Inner Mongolia (Nei Mongol), Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Zhejiang Provinces.

Populations native to Northeast China, Russia, Korea and Japan were formerly included in this species, but are now regarded as separate as the Amur softshell turtle. Populations in Vietnam and Hainan Island are now recognized as the spotted softshell turtle. Furthermore, localized populations in Guangxi, Hunan, and Anhui (where the Chinese softshell turtle also is present) are recognized as the lesser Chinese softshell turtle, Hunan softshell turtle, and Huangshan softshell turtle.

It is difficult to determine the exact native range of the Chinese softshell turtle due to the long tradition of its use as a food and herbal medicinal, and subsequent spread by migrating people. Outside its native China, escapees have been recorded in a wide range of countries and some of these have becomes established as introduced populations. Among the non-native locations in Asia are the Bonin Islands, Honshu, Kyushu, Ryukyu Archipelago and Shikoku in Japan; South Korea; Laos; Vietnam; Thailand; Singapore; Bohol, Cebu, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro and Panay in the Philippines; East and Peninsular Malaysia; Kalimantan, Sumatra and West Timor in Indonesia; East Timor; and Iran. Outside Asia, locations include Pará in Brazil; Spain; and Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Oahu (Hawaii) in the United States. In the places where the Chinese softshell turtle is not native, the species has become a pest and invasive species, endangering various indigenous species in areas where it has been introduced and destabilizing numerous ecosystems. In 2024, the species was found in the Merrimack River in Massachusetts.

The Chinese softshell turtle lives in fresh and brackish water. In China it is found in rivers, lakes, ponds, canals and creeks with slow currents, and in Hawaii they can be found in marshes and drainage ditches.

• Movement Pattern: Not Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Decreasing

• Population: 100,000-150,000

• Locomotion: Amphibious

• Habitat: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands, Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Fallow Airbase; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Candyland; Mountain; Sky; Warm River; Cold River; Lukewarm River; Warm Pond; Cold Pond; Warm Lake; Cold Lake; Warm Littoral; Cold Littoral; Volcano; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): China (Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hong Kong, Hubei, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang); Mongolia; Taiwan

  • Extant & Introduced: Brazil; Guam; Indonesia; Iran; Japan; South Korea; Laos; Malaysia; Northern Mariana Islands; Philippines; Singapore; Spain; Thailand; East Timor; United States (Hawaii; Massachusetts); Vietnam

All terrapins are automatically tamed when hatched from an egg, as the survivor is always within 6 radius of the egg. If the tortoise is somehow not tamed at birth, it can be tamed with a whip, any plant materials, shrimps, fishes, or eggshells.

Coming soon

• čeština: Kožnatka čínská

• Deutsch: Chinesische Weichschildkröte

• English: Chinese softshell turtle, Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle

• Magyar: Kínai lágyhéjú teknős

• Nihongo: チュウゴクスッポン, シナスッポン

• Korean: 자라

• Malay: Labi-labi Cina

• Maori: Māririārai-honu Pakeha

• Navajo: Tsiiʼyishbizhí Dineʼé Bikéyahdę́ę́ʼ chʼééh digháhii bitsʼaʼ yilzhólí

• Polski: Żółwiak chiński

• Tagalog: Ahas-pagong ng Tsina

• Thai: ตะพาบไต้หวัน

• Mandarin Chinese: 中華鱉

• TBA

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_softshell_turtle

• https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Pelodiscus_sinensis

• https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q754028

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39620/97401140

• https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pelodiscus_sinensis/classification/

• jhttps://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/paul_giamatti_205566?src=t_turtle

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Chinese-Softshell-Turtle-1146117818