NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
Pelodiscus parviformis Tang, 1997
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
The lesser Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus parviformis) is a species of turtle in the family Trionychidae. It is endemic to China, where it inhabits a small range in Guangxi and Hunan provinces. Populations of this species in Vietnam and Hainan are now considered to belong to a separate species, the spotted softshell turtle (P. variegatus).
There is some controversy within researchers over whether or not P. parviformis is a valid species. Yang et al. (2011) deemed it a valid species. Reptile Database commented that due to a lack of a revised diagnosis in this study, this species is still somewhat of unclear status.
It has been proposed that this species be considered as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to its restricted range and the heavy level of exploitation it receives.
Wikipedia contributors, Lesser Chinese softshell turtle; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T14:42:48.445295+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Pelodiscus parviformis Tang, 1997
- Name authority
- Tang, 1997
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Testudines
- Family
- Trionychidae
- Genus
- Pelodiscus
- Extinction status
- Not supplied by this source
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classReptilia Laurenti, 1768
- orderTestudines Batsch, 1788
- suborderCryptodira
- superfamilyTrionychoidea
- familyTrionychidae
- genusPelodiscus
- speciesPelodiscus parviformis Tang, 1997
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Pelodiscus. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Pelodiscus maackii (Brandt, 1858) | TrionychidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Chinese Soft-shelled TurtlePelodiscus sinensis (Wiegmann, 1835) | TrionychidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Chinese stone slab soft-shelled turtle [shipian]Pelodiscus axenaria (Zhou, Zhang & Fang, 1991) | TrionychidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Huangshan soft-shelled turtlePelodiscus huangshanensis Gong, Peng, Huang, Lin, Huang, Xu, Yang & Nie, 2021 | TrionychidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Chinese gray softshell turtlePelodiscus huike Liu, FU, Ma, Zhou, Blanck, Zhou, Xiao & Mo, 2024 | TrionychidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Pelodiscus&species=parviformis Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:76CTD. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.