Scientists have developed and validated a first-of-its-kind, portable environmental DNA (eDNA) test to help detect the world's rarest turtle, the Swinhoe's softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei), which is teetering on the brink of extinction. Two of these turtles are currently known to exist, one wild animal in Vietnam (sex unknown) and one captive male in China (more than 100 years old). Additional Swinhoe's softshell turtles need to be found in order to breed these turtles successfully in captivity and rescue this species.