What is the difference between turtles and soft shelled turtles

Turtle and soft shelled turtle are different names for the same animal, both referring to the Chinese soft shelled turtle, belonging to the order Turtles and the family Turtles, with no biological classification difference.

The Chinese turtle is a freshwater turtle widely distributed in Rivers and Lakes in China. Its dorsal shell is oval and relatively flat, its edge is soft and skirt shaped, and its head is triangular and can be completely shrunk into the shell. The meat of Chinese soft shelled turtle is tender and rich in high-quality protein and various minerals. Its carapace can be used as medicine and has the effect of nourishing yin and yang. People often refer to artificially cultivated individuals as turtles and wild individuals as soft shelled turtles, but this is not a scientific classification basis. From the perspective of nutritional value and medicinal value, the two are essentially the same, with the main difference being the taste difference caused by growth environment and breeding methods. Wild turtles have denser meat due to their high activity, while farmed turtles have slightly higher fat content and are easier to obtain. The dorsal shell of Chinese soft shelled turtle is called turtle shell in traditional Chinese medicine, which contains animal glue, keratin and other ingredients, and is commonly used to treat symptoms such as yin deficiency and fever. Modern breeding technology has achieved large-scale cultivation, and most of the circulating turtles in the market are artificially farmed turtles. Wild turtles are less common due to ecological protection needs. Whether it is turtles or turtles, it is recommended to purchase quarantine qualified products through regular channels, and thoroughly heat them during cooking to kill parasites. People with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold should control their consumption and avoid eating cold foods together.