Abstract: Background The Novaculina chinensis is an endemic species and a second-class protected aquatic wildlife in China, it plays an important ecological role and has high economic value. However, its potential geographical distribution in China is still unclear. Objective In order to understand the potential geographical distribution of N. chinensis in China and its related environmental factors, Methods the distribution records of N. chinensis and its grid layer data were used to predict its potential suitable area in China based on the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model, meanwhile, the key environmental factors affecting its geographical distribution was analyzed. Results The results showed that the MaxEnt model had extremely high prediction accuracy, with an average AUC value of 0.991. The potential suitable area of N. chinensis in China was mainly located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the Huaihe River basin, the Pearl River Delta and the eastern coastal areas. The suitable habitat area was 39.99×10⁴ km², of which the low, medium, and high suitable habitat area was 22.79, 7.39, and 9.81×10⁴ km², respectively. The comprehensive analysis indicated that elevation, precipitation of driest month, isothermality and mean temperature of wettest were the dominant environmental factors affecting the potential geographical distribution of N. chinensis in China, with a cumulative factor contribution rate of 95.5%. The optimal range of dominant environmental factors were: elevation (lower than 100 m), precipitation of driest month(19.8-41.2 mm), isothermality(14.5- 25.4) and mean temperature of wettest (25.3-35.0 ℃). Conclusion In the study, it is for the first time to use the MaxEnt model to obtain the potential geographical distribution of N. chinensis in China, and find the dominant environmental factors that affect its geographical distribution. N. chinensis have vast suitable areas in China, but there is still need to strengthen its resource management and protection, furthermore, specific management and protection measures have been proposed.