At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle is one of the largest freshwater turtles and may be the rarest turtle in the world, with only a few known individuals. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It has a soft, leathery shell and a pig-like snout.
Range & habitat
The Yangtze and Red River regions of China and Vietnam.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- An extremely small number of known individuals
- Past hunting and habitat loss
- Failed reproduction
Why it matters
Possibly the rarest turtle on Earth, the Yangtze giant softshell turtle is a sobering symbol of how close a species can come to vanishing.
Among the rarest turtles on Earth.
Sources
Sources for Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle
- IUCN Red List — look up Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle (authoritative status)
- reptile-database.reptarium.cz
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Yangtze giant softshell turtle so rare?
Only a tiny number of individuals are known to survive, and efforts to breed them have repeatedly failed, leaving the species on the very edge of extinction.
Why is it Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite its extremely small known population, past hunting and habitat loss, and failed reproduction. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
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