Details
Andrias davidianus
The Chinese giant salamander is a huge freshwater salamander of the Palearctic realm. It is a solitary nocturnal carnivore moving along riverbeds.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses cool, oxygen-rich rivers and mountain streams. Rock crevices and underwater shelters are important for resting and breeding.
Length is about 80-180 cm and weight about 5-50 kg. A broad flat head and wrinkled skin help it sense prey in flowing water.
It is nocturnal and solitary. By day it hides under rocks or in holes, then walks along the streambed at night.
It is carnivorous, taking fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic animals. The broad mouth helps it suck in prey.
Breeding occurs in underwater dens, where males are known to guard eggs. Larvae develop in water, and adults remain strongly aquatic.
Its conservation status is CR. Habitat degradation and capture pressure make river protection and managed breeding important.
