The Huangshan softshell turtle or horse-hoof softshell turtle (''Pelodiscus huangshanensis'') is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

turtle Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked ...

in the family

Trionychidae The Trionychidae are a taxonomic family of a number of turtle genera, commonly known as softshell turtles. The family was erected by Leopold Fitzinger in 1826. Softshells include some of the world's largest freshwater turtles, though many can a ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to China, where it is found only in southern

Anhui Province Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...

, in the

Huangshan Huangshan (),Bernstein, pp. 125–127. Literal translation, literally meaning the Yellow Mountain(s), is a mountain range in southern Anhui Provinces of China, Province in eastern China. It was originally called “Yishan”, and it was rename ...

range.

Taxonomy

Prior to 2021, populations of this species were considered conspecific with the more widespread

Chinese softshell turtle The Chinese softshell turtle (''Pelodiscus sinensis'') is a species of softshell turtle that is native to China (Inner Mongolia to Guangxi, including Hong Kong) and Taiwan, with records of escapees—some of which have established introduced ...

(''P. sinensis''), which was thought to be the only native softshell turtle in the province. However, local people knew about the existence of this species over a millennium prior. Folk songs and poems noted a second form of softshell turtle in the Huangshan range, referred to as the "horse-hoof softshell turtle" or ''mǎ tí biē'' (马蹄鳖). Phylogenetic evidence of these populations found them to be a distinct species most closely related to the

Hunan softshell turtle The Hunan softshell turtle (''Pelodiscus axenaria'') is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae, the softshells. It is endemic to China, where it occurs in Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Jiangxi Jiangxi (; ; formerly romanized as Kian ...

(''P. axenaria'') as well as an undescribed ''Pelodiscus'' from

Jiangxi Jiangxi (; ; formerly romanized as Kiangsi or Chianghsi) is a landlocked province in the east of the People's Republic of China. Its major cities include Nanchang and Jiujiang. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze river in the north into h ...

. It was accepted as a distinct species by the

Turtle Taxonomy Working Group The Turtle Taxonomy Working Group (TTWG) is an informal working group of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG). It is composed of a number of leading turtle taxonomist In biology, taxonomy () is the scientific s ...

later that year.

Habitat and ecology

''P. huangshanensis'' can also be distinguished be distinguished from ''P. sinensis'' by their ecological niches: ''P. sinensis'' is adapted to various aquatic habitats, while ''P. huangshanensis'' is restricted to clear rivers with fine sand, primarily located near the source of the

Qiantang River The Qiantang River, formerly known as the Hangchow River and alternatively romanised as the Tsientang River, is a river in East China. An important commercial artery, it runs for through Zhejiang, passing through the provincial capital Hangz ...

Description

This species is referred to as the "horse-hoof softshell turtle" due to it being significantly smaller than ''P. sinensis'', being only as large as a horse's hoof.

Status

A more restricted habitat has made ''P. huangshanensis'' vulnerable to habitat destruction and overhunting, which has greatly reduced its population.

Captive breeding Captive breeding, also known as captive propagation, is the process of plants or animals in controlled environments, such as wildlife reserves, zoos, botanic gardens, and other conservation facilities. It is sometimes employed to help species t ...

of this species has been successful.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q111385003 Pelodiscus Turtles of Asia Reptiles of China Endemic fauna of China Reptiles described in 2021