as a winter delicacy. Many Koreans, even today, generally have a taboo against eating turtles which has origins in native Korean shamanism. These turtles can be injured if they are dropped or hit, and are susceptible to shell fungus. Within Europe, the turtle is a popular pet, particularly in countries such as Italy and the Czech Republic. Captives of this species will eat canned and fresh fish, canned dog food, raw beef, mice, frogs, and chicken. However, in captivity they do not usually eat turtle feed. They can deliver a painful bite if provoked, but will usually let go after a while. Synonyms Numerous synonyms have been used for this species: Testudo rostrata Thunberg, 1787 (nomen suppressum) Testudo striata Suckow, 1798 Testudo semimembranacea Hermann, 1804 (nomen suppressum et rejectum) Emydes rostrata – Brongniart, 1805 Trionyx (Aspidonectes) sinensis Wiegmann, 1834 (nomen conservandum) Trionyx japonicus – Temminck & Schlegel, 1835 Trionyx tuberculatus Cantor, 1842 Pelodiscus sinensis – Fitzinger, 1843 Tyrse perocellata Gray, 1844 Trionyx perocellatus – Gray, 1856 Trionyx schlegelii Brandt, 1857 Potamochelys perocellatus – Gray, 1864 Potamochelys tuberculatus – Gray, 1864 Landemania irrorata Gray, 1869 Landemania perocellata – Gray, 1869 Trionyx peroculatus Günther, 1869 (ex errore) Gymnopus perocellatus – David, 1872 Gymnopus simonii David, 1875 (nomen nudum) Ceramopelta latirostris Heude, 1880 Cinctisternum bicinctum Heude, 1880 Coelognathus novemcostatus Heude, 1880 Coptopelta septemcostata Heude, 1880 Gomphopelta officinae Heude, 1880 Psilognathus laevis Heude, 1880 Temnognathus mordax Heude, 1880 Trionyx sinensis newtoni Bethencourt-Ferreira, 1897 Tortisternum novemcostatum Heude, 1880 Temnognanthus mordax – Boulenger, 1889 Tyrse sinensis – Hay, 1904 Amyda japonica – Stejneger, 1907 Amyda schlegelii – Stejneger, 1907 Amyda sinensis – Stejneger, 1907 Amyda tuberculata – Schmidt, 1927 Trionyx sinensis sinensis – Smith, 1931 Trionyx sinensis tuberculatus – Smith, 1931 Amyda schlegelii haseri Pavlov, 1932 Amyda schlegelii licenti Pavlov, 1932 Amyda sinensis sinensis – Mertens, Müller & Rust, 1934 Amyda sinensis tuberculata – Mertens, Müller & Rust, 1934 Trionyx schlegeli Chkhikvadze, 1987 (ex errore) Trionix sinensis – Richard, 1999 Pelodiscus sinensis sinensis – Ferri, 2002 Pelodiscus sinensis tuberculatus – Ferri, 2002 Pelodiscus sinensis japonicus – Joseph-Ouni, 2004 Genetics The genome of Pelodiscus sinensis was sequenced in 2013 to examine the development and evolution of the softshell turtle body plan. References Bibliography Wiegmann, A. F. A. 1835. Beiträge zur Zoologie, gesammelt auf einer Reise um die Erde, von Dr. F. J. F. Meyen. Amphibien ". Nova Acta Acad. Leopold.-Carol. 17: 185-268. ("Trionyx (Aspidonectes ) sinensis ",