Meet the Chinese giant salamander, the world’s largest amphibian. They can grow to be the size of an adult man, and scientists believe they could live until they’re over 200. This is just part of the prehistoric creatures’ impressive longevity, but sadly in recent years they have become increasingly endangered.
These fully aquatic creatures are found in rocky streams and lakes of the Yangtze River basin. They have dwelt here for millions of years, hardly changing during that time and growing up to six feet in length and over 100 pounds in weight. Their lineage can be traced back to salamander fossils unearthed from the Jurassic Period, and contemporary creatures are considered “living fossils”.
Over the years, the giant salamanders have evolved to have a number of special features assisting their survival. Poor eyesight is compensated for with sensory nodes that cover their skin, detecting vibrations and helping them locate prey. Conversely, when threatened, their skin can produce a white fluid that is said to smell peppery and warns off any predators.
This is not all the salamanders’ skin is used for. According to London Zoo, they are also able to directly absorb oxygen through their porous skin, and the wrinkled and baggy quality gives the salamander a greater surface area through which to do so.
In captivity, the Chinese giant salamander usually lives for around half a century, but in the wild they are believed to reach much older. This is only the case, sadly, if they are not poached. In China, the wild number of giant salamanders has decreased by 80% since the 1950s. They are overexploited for food, medicine and in private collections. It means salamanders are over-harvested in the wild, while the extensive farming practices may be causing a hybridization of different species. Environmental factors are also leading to the loss of the Chinese giant salamander’s habitat.
The diet of Chinese giant salamanders typically consists of worms, crustaceans, insect larvae and small vertebrates such as fish and frogs. London Zoo explains how they hunt using “a gape and suck method”, in which “their throat expands, and then they open their mouth to cause suction to drag in water and prey.”
Outside of China, the species has been introduced to parts of Japan and on the island of Taiwan.
Want to see the Chinese giant salamander in action? Check out the video below!
