Palea steindachneri (Siebenrock, 1906)
Steindachner's Soft-shelled Turtle 山瑞鱉

Palea steindachneri
Order Testudines 龜鱉目
Family Trionychidae 鱉科
Genus
Pelodiscus 鱉屬
Species Palea steindachneri
Other name Wattle-necked Soft-shelled Turtle
Chinese name -
Carapace length One large specimen measured 34 cm in length and 22 across.
Origin Introduced
Description Carapace dark grey to black, flat, without horny shields, but covered by soft tissue.
Unlike the smooth carapace of Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis), has numerous tubercles along the margin.
Plastron white or lighter in colour.
Head and neck broad, larger than in P. sinensis, with prominent wattles at the base of neck.
Back of head has two large pale patches on either side, which fade with age.
Snout pointed, nostril snorkel-like.
Habitat In China, live in large hill streams and rivers.
Behaviour Extremely aggressive and will bite when handled.
Diet Not known, but probably carnivorous like other Chinese soft-shelled turtles.
Reproduction Oviparous. Reported to lay 3 - 28 eggs.
Distribution In Hong Kong, known from only one large specimen found in Kowloon Reservoir in 1980.
No further specimen have since been sighted and collected.
This specimen was most probably released as this species in commonly imported from China and Southeast Asia and commonly sold in Hong Kong markets. Moreover, there is no suitable habitat locally.
Therefore this species in not native in Hong Kong.
Occurs in central and southern China, and Vietnam.
Conservation Status

IUCN Redlist: NE (Not Evaluated)
China Redlist: Endangered
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