Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle
CR

Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle

Rafetus swinhoei

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yangtze_giant_softshell_turtle

Overview

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

The Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle faces imminent extinction with only a handful of individuals remaining worldwide. Decades of overharvesting for food and traditional medicine, combined with dam construction fragmenting river systems, have devastated populations. Pollution from industrial development along the Yangtze River has degraded water quality in remaining habitats. The species' extremely slow reproductive rate and late sexual maturity make recovery nearly impossible at current population levels.

Threat summary

Habitat

Inhabits large freshwater river systems, particularly the Yangtze River basin and Red River system in Vietnam and China. Prefers deep pools and slow-flowing sections with soft sediment bottoms where it can burrow and ambush prey.

Marine coastal/supratidal· majorArtificial - Aquatic & marine· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent freshwater lakes· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle classified as Critically Endangered?
Yangtze Giant Softshell 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 Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle faces imminent extinction with only a handful of individuals remaining worldwide. Decades of overharvesting for food and traditional medicine, combined with dam construction fragmenting river systems, have devastated populations. Pollution from industrial development along the Yangtze River has degraded water quality in remaining habitats. The species' extremely slow reproductive rate and late sexual maturity make recovery nearly impossible at current population levels.
Where does Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle live?
Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle occurs in 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 Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle?
The main threats to Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle are 3.2, 3.3, 5.3, and 5.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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