Top 10 Native Turtle Species Counts in China: A 34-Province Distribution Overview, Guangxi Leads the Country with 18 Species

There are a total of 6 families, 17 genera, and 36 species of native Testudines (turtles and tortoises) in China (comprising 29 turtle species and 7 softshell turtle species). This statistic covers 34 provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions, and special administrative regions, focusing on tortoises and freshwater turtles (excluding sea turtles), and incorporates data corrected by authoritative taxonomic checklists.

Shaanxi and Macau

Shaanxi is home to Reeves’Turtle, Pan’s Box Turtle (Cuora pani, a freshwater turtle species unique to China), and the Chinese Softshell Turtle. Macau is home to Reeves’ Turtle, the Three-striped Box Turtle (Golden Coin Turtle), and the Chinese Softshell Turtle. Both regions have 3 native turtle species distributed within them.

Sichuan

Sichuan has 4 native turtle species distributed there. The native turtle species distributed in Sichuan are: Reeves’Turtle, Pan’s Box Turtle, Yunnan Box Turtle, and the Chinese Softshell Turtle.

Jiangsu, Henan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

These provinces/regions each have 5 native turtle species distributed within them. Jiangsu is home to the Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Reeves’Turtle, Yellow-margined Box Turtle, Chinese Softshell Turtle, and Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle. Henan is home to Reeves’ Turtle, Yellow-headed Box Turtle (western subspecies), Yellow-margined Box Turtle, Pan’s Box Turtle, and the Chinese Softshell Turtle. Hong Kong is home to the Big-headed Turtle (Chinese subspecies), Reeves’ Turtle, Beal’s Eye-spotted Turtle, Three-striped Box Turtle (Nominotypical subspecies, referring to the subspecies where the subspecies name is the same as the species name), and the Chinese Softshell Turtle. Taiwan is home to the Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Reeves’ Turtle, Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle, Yellow-margined Box Turtle, and the Chinese Softshell Turtle.

Hubei

Hubei has 6 native turtle species distributed there. The native turtle species distributed in Hubei are: Yellow-headed Box Turtle (western subspecies), Yellow-margined Box Turtle, Pan’s Box Turtle, Chinese Softshell Turtle, Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, and Reeves’ Turtle.

Yunnan

Yunnan has 7 native turtle species distributed there. The native turtle species distributed in Yunnan are: Big-headed Turtle (Burmese subspecies), Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Keeled Box Turtle, Yunnan Box Turtle, Impressed Tortoise, Elongated Tortoise, and Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle.

Zhejiang, Anhui, and Hunan

These regions each have 8 native turtle species distributed within them. Zhejiang is home to the Big-headed Turtle (Chinese subspecies), Yellow-margined Box Turtle, Reeves’Turtle, Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle, Yellow-headed Box Turtle (eastern subspecies), Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Asian Giant Softshell Turtle (Pelochelys cantorii, a large freshwater softshell turtle), and the Chinese Softshell Turtle. Anhui is home to the Big-headed Turtle (Chinese subspecies), Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Reeves’ Turtle, Chinese Softshell Turtle, Yellow-headed Box Turtle (eastern subspecies), Yellow-headed Box Turtle (western subspecies), Yellow-margined Box Turtle, and the Huangshan Horseshoe Softshell (common name for the Chinese Softshell Turtle in the Huangshan region of Anhui). Hunan is home to the Big-headed Turtle (Chinese subspecies), Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Reeves’Turtle, Yellow-margined Box Turtle, Hunan Softshell Turtle, Lesser Chinese Softshell Turtle, “Shipian” Softshell (local colloquial name for a certain small softshell species), and the Chinese Softshell Turtle.

Fujian and Jiangxi

Fujian and Jiangxi each have 9 native turtle species distributed within them. Fujian is home to the Big-headed Turtle (Chinese subspecies), Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Reeves’Turtle, Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle, Beal’s Eye-spotted Turtle, Yellow-margined Box Turtle, Three-striped Box Turtle, Asian Giant Softshell Turtle, and the Chinese Softshell Turtle. Jiangxi is home to the Big-headed Turtle (Chinese subspecies), Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Reeves’Turtle, Beal’s Eye-spotted Turtle, Yellow-margined Box Turtle, Black-breasted Leaf Turtle (commonly known as the “Maple Leaf Turtle”), Hunan Softshell Turtle, “Shipian” Softshell, and the Chinese Softshell Turtle.

Hainan

Hainan has 12 native turtle species distributed there. The native turtle species distributed in Hainan are: Big-headed Turtle (Burmese subspecies), Big-headed Turtle (Vietnamese subspecies), Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle, Four-eyed Turtle, Indochinese Box Turtle, Keeled Box Turtle, Three-striped Box Turtle (Hainan subspecies), Black-breasted Leaf Turtle, Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle, Asian Giant Softshell Turtle, and the Vietnamese Softshell Turtle.

Guangdong

Guangdong has 13 native turtle species distributed there. The native turtle species distributed in Guangdong are: Big-headed Turtle (Chinese subspecies), Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Red-necked Pond Turtle, Reeves’Turtle, Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle, Beal’s Eye-spotted Turtle, Four-eyed Turtle, Three-striped Box Turtle (Nominotypical subspecies), Black-breasted Leaf Turtle, Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle, Asian Giant Softshell Turtle, Hunan Softshell Turtle, and the Chinese Softshell Turtle.

Guangxi

Guangxi has 18 native turtle species distributed there. The native turtle species distributed in Guangxi are: Big-headed Turtle (Chinese subspecies), Big-headed Turtle (Vietnamese subspecies), Asian Yellow Pond Turtle, Red-necked Pond Turtle, Chinese Stripe-necked Turtle, Four-eyed Turtle, Indochinese Box Turtle, Vietnamese Three-striped Box Turtle (referring to Three-striped Box Turtle populations distributed in Vietnam and surrounding areas), McCord’s Box Turtle (Baise Box Turtle), Three-striped Box Turtle (Nominotypical subspecies), Black-breasted Leaf Turtle, Elongated Tortoise, Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle, Asian Giant Softshell Turtle, Hunan Softshell Turtle, Lesser Chinese Softshell Turtle, and the Chinese Softshell Turtle.

Supplementary Regional Distribution

Beijing is home to Reeves’Turtle. Tianjin is home to Reeves’ Turtle. Henan is home to the Chinese Softshell Turtle. Liaoning is home to Reeves’Turtle. Jilin is home to Reeves’ Turtle. Heilongjiang is home to the Northern Chinese Softshell Turtle. Gansu is home to Reeves’Turtle. Ningxia is home to the Chinese Softshell Turtle. Xinjiang is home to the Russian Tortoise (China’s only native distribution is in Xinjiang). Shanxi is home to Reeves’Turtle and the Chinese Softshell Turtle. Shandong is home to Reeves’ Turtle and the Chinese Softshell Turtle. Guizhou is home to Reeves’ Turtle and the Wattle-necked Softshell Turtle. Inner Mongolia is home to the Northern Chinese Softshell Turtle and the Chinese Softshell Turtle. There are also some regions with no native turtle species distribution, including Shanghai, Qinghai, and Tibet.