Giant Chinese Salamander (Andrias davidianus)

The giant Chinese salamander is a critically endangered salamander species. It is the world’s largest amphibian. Chinese salamanders have an average length of 1 meter and weigh 11 kg. Their bodies are heavily built and flat, with short but sturdy limbs.

They can live for up to 60 years. The conservation status of giant Chinese salamanders is critically endangered. Researchers could only find 24 giant Chinese salamanders in the wild. Excessive hunting by humans caused an alarming decline in their population.

Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus)

The Chinese Giant Salamander is the world's largest amphibian, found in the streams and lakes of China. It can stretch up to almost 6 feet in length, second only to the largest amphibian which is discussed in the next section. 

They are active at night and feed on insects, frogs, crabs, and fish. Sometimes, they resort to cannibalism. Since they have poor eyesight, they have a built-in vibrational sensor called the lateral line system that helps them locate prey and avoid danger. 

Interestingly, they make sounds resembling a baby crying, so locals in China call them "baby fish.” Despite this endearing name and their huge size, Chinese Giant Salamanders have the IUCN Critically Endangered status due to habitat destruction and overhunting7.