Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus).
Image: J. Patrick Fischer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Matches source — IUCN's 2023 global assessment of Andrias davidianus says Critically EndangeredChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The Chinese giant salamander is among the largest amphibians on Earth, reaching well over a metre. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It is a fully aquatic, slow-moving predator of cool, fast rivers, and wild populations have collapsed.
Range & habitat
Mountain streams and rivers of central, southern, and eastern China.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Collection for food and farming
- Habitat loss and degradation
- Pollution
Why it matters
As a giant 'living fossil' amphibian, the Chinese giant salamander is both an evolutionary marvel and a stark example of how the wildlife-food trade can hollow out wild populations even of farmed species.
One of the largest living amphibians.
Gallery
Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus).
Image: Namiac, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Chinese Giant Salamander
- IUCN Red List — look up Chinese Giant Salamander (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web