Protoxinjiangchelys salis was named by Tong et al. (2012). Its type specimen is ZDM 3009, a shell (a complete shell with articulated carapace and plastron), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Dashanpu Dinosaur Quarry [lower], which is in a Bajocian/Oxfordian lacustrine sandstone/mudstone in the Shaximiao Formation of China.