Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle
CR

Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle

Mauremys sinensis

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Chinese stripe-necked turtle faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for food markets and traditional medicine trade throughout East Asia. Habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion has eliminated many freshwater wetlands where this species historically thrived. Water pollution from industrial runoff and agricultural chemicals further degrades remaining aquatic habitats, while introduced species compete for nesting sites and food resources.

Threat summary

Habitat

This semi-aquatic turtle inhabits slow-moving freshwater environments including ponds, marshes, rice paddies, and shallow streams with muddy bottoms and abundant vegetation. It requires adjacent terrestrial areas with soft soil for nesting and basking sites near water bodies.

FRESHWATER· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle classified as Critically Endangered?
Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Chinese stripe-necked turtle faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for food markets and traditional medicine trade throughout East Asia. Habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion has eliminated many freshwater wetlands where this species historically thrived. Water pollution from industrial runoff and agricultural chemicals further degrades remaining aquatic habitats, while introduced species compete for nesting sites and food resources.
Where does Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle live?
Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle occurs in China, Hong Kong SAR China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle?
The main threats to Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle are 2.1, 5.3, 5.4, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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