Today’s animal, as always, is ugly. But in this case, the ugliness commands a great deal of respect. After all, this species has been able to remain on Earth in a relatively unchanged state for over 170 million years. Perhaps by exploring its characteristics and conservation issues, we can acquire a portion of its ancient wisdom.

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Meet Andrias davidianus, also known as the Chinese Giant Salamander. Once thought to be the only species of its type, there are now believed to be 5-8 species of Chinese Giant Salamander. This particular species lives in rocky streams, rivers, and lakes in mountainous regions of China. These salamanders certainly earn their “giant” description, as they can grow to nearly 6 feet long and weigh up to 110 pounds. Due to these measurements, the Chinese Giant Salamander is the largest amphibian in the world. In captivity, the Chinese Giant Salamander is known to live for 60 years or more. This gives the species the longest lifespan of any amphibian in the world. Like the Titicaca Water Frog, this salamander species lives its whole life underwater. They use their wrinkly skin to absorb oxygen from the water around them.

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The Chinese Giant Salamander has small, dark, barely noticeable eyes. This indicates two purposes. The dark brown coloration of the salamander helps them blend in to the muddy, rocky bottom of the streams they prefers. Furthermore, they do not use their eyes to hunt. Instead, they have sensory nodes running the length of their body. These help to detect vibrations in the water that come from prey. These salamanders prey upon almost anything they can catch, including fish, snails, crayfish, and even smaller salamanders. They are the most active at night, while they choose to rest in underwater crevices in the day. Chinese Giant Salamanders breed in mid-late summer. Females lay strings of up to 500 eggs which are fertilized by males. The baby salamanders then grow on their own, reaching maturity after 5-6 years.

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Formerly a common and revered species, the Chinese Giant Salamander is now at risk of extinction. The IUCN Red List reports that the species is critically endangered, for good reason. Much of the habitat preferred by these giant salamanders is now fragmented or polluted. They rely upon the streams they live in being well-oxygenated and clean, so any pollution has a great affect on their health. Furthermore, there is a large demand for the species as a delicacy and for use in traditional medicine. Massive farms have been established to meet this demand, but the salamanders in these farms are often poached from the wild and increase the prevalence of disease across all salamander populations. Though the Chinese Giant Salamander is an ancient species, its eons of history may end with the modern pressures forced upon it by humankind.

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