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Pelodiscus
Genus of turtles / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pelodiscus is a genus of turtles in the family Trionychidae, the softshells.[2] Based on genetic and morphological analysis there are seven valid species.[3] They are native to Eastern Asia, ranging from the Amur region, south through China and Korea, as far south as Vietnam.[4] Populations in Japan are thought to likely originate from historic human introductions.[3]
Quick Facts Pelodiscus, Conservation status ...
Pelodiscus | |
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Pelodiscus sinensis, Chinese softshell turtle | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Family: | Trionychidae |
Subfamily: | Trionychinae |
Genus: | Pelodiscus Fitzinger, 1835[2] |
Species | |
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Phylogenetic studies have recovered a high diversity of Pelodiscus genotypes in China, some of which may correspond to distinct species. However, the millennia-old practice of farming Pelodiscus for consumption, especially in large-scale turtle farms since the late 20th century, is thought to threaten these lineages due to hybridization with farmed individuals.[5]