Chinese Softshell Turtle

The Chinese softshell turtle is called 'softshell' because its carapace lacks horny scutes. Females reach a straight-line carapace length of up to 33cm and the smaller males 27cm, with males having longer tails. Millions are farmed, especially in China, to support the food industry, and it is the world's most economically important turtle (Wikipedia, general species account).

The Reptile Database gives its range as central and southern China, northern Vietnam, Hainan, Taiwan and the Russian Far East, and records introductions elsewhere. Because of the long tradition of its use as food and medicine, and the subsequent spread by people, its exact native range is difficult to determine. Populations in Guangxi and Hunan are treated as separate species (The Reptile Database; Wikipedia, general species account).