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Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus) wildlife photograph

Field guide · legendary

Chinese Giant Salamander

The world's largest amphibian — an ancient, wrinkled stream giant of China's hills.

Critically Endangered

Andrias davidianus

Overview

Chinese giant salamanders are the largest living amphibians, reaching well over a metre in cool mountain streams. Flattened heads, beady eyes, and wrinkled skin folds give them a primordial look — and a critically endangered status after overharvesting.

A powerful China card beyond pandas, adding true amphibian megafauna to Catch'Um.

Habitat

  • Mountain streams
  • Rocky rivers

Clear, cool, fast-flowing hill streams and rivers of central and southern China with rocky crevices for shelter.

Countries found

Field notes

Field scale for the Chinese Giant Salamander: length around 1-1.5 m typical large adults; rarely longer; weight 20-40+ kg exceptional. Typical lifespan: Around 50-60 years possible.

When you are scanning habitat, prioritise mountain streams and rocky rivers. Those settings are where a clean look and a usable photo are most likely.

Quick ID anchor: Huge flattened salamander with mottled brown skin, tiny eyes, and wrinkled skin folds along the body. Confirm with behaviour and habitat before you log the discovery.

Diet

Fish, worms, insects, crustaceans, and amphibians ambushed in streams.

Sit-and-wait hunters using a wide suction gape.

Behaviour

Nocturnal and secretive; hide under rocks by day.

Males may guard nesting cavities in breeding season.

How to identify

Huge flattened salamander with mottled brown skin, tiny eyes, and wrinkled skin folds along the body.

Broad head and paddle-like tail; four short limbs.

Interesting facts

  1. 01

    The world's largest amphibian — exceptional individuals exceed 1.5 metres.

  2. 02

    Breathe partly through skin; need cool oxygen-rich water.

  3. 03

    Mostly nocturnal ambush predators of fish and invertebrates.

  4. 04

    Often called 'infant fish' in China for their cry-like vocalisations.

  5. 05

    Can live for many decades.

  6. 06

    Wild populations have collapsed from overharvesting and habitat loss.

Conservation status

CR: Critically Endangered

Chinese giant salamanders are Critically Endangered in the wild. Overharvesting for food and medicine, pollution, and dams devastated populations. Captive breeding is common, but wild stream restoration is urgent.

Sources: IUCN Red List

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Where it lives

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