Turtle. Commonly known as soft-shelled turtle, water fish, group of fish and the king's eight, etc., oviparous reptiles, amphibious life on land and water. Turtle meat is tasty and nutritious, and has the effect of clearing heat and nourishing yin, calming the liver and extinguishing wind, and softening and dispersing knots. The turtle is not only a delicious dish on the table, but also a very versatile tonic drug.

The main extant species in China are the Chinese soft-shelled turtle, the mountain soft-shelled turtle, the spotted soft-shelled turtle and the soft-shelled turtle, of which the Chinese soft-shelled turtle is the most common. The species has been included in the List of Beneficial or Economically and Scientifically Important Terrestrial Wildlife under State Protection issued on August 1, 2000 by the State Forestry Administration of China.