- It is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world.
- It is one of the two species in the genus Rafetus.
- Currently, there are only two confirmed individuals globally.
- There is one known male at Suzhou Zoo in China and one female in the Dong Mo Lake, Vietnam.
- There might be one or more individuals in the Xuan Khanh Lake, Vietnam, but this has not been confirmed yet.
- None of the confirmed individuals have reproduced successfully in recent decades.
- It prefers to stay submerged in deep water and occasionally comes up to breathe.
- In China, it is a symbol of longevity. In Vietnam, it is linked to a well-known folklore (Kim Qui).
- Females can lay over 50 eggs per clutch. Three to four clutches per year were observed.
- It is assessed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Its carapace length can be over 100 cm. It can live for over 100 years. Females can be fertile at an age of over 90 years. It is omnivorous, feeding on various animals and plants.
It prefers to stay submerged in deep water and occasionally comes up to breathe. It is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. It is one of the two species in the genus Rafetus. Currently, there are only two confirmed individuals globally.
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