seen from Philippines
seen from United States
seen from India
seen from Malaysia
seen from Tanzania
seen from Russia
seen from Türkiye
seen from Türkiye
seen from Türkiye
seen from Canada
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Germany
seen from Malaysia
seen from Philippines
seen from Argentina
seen from Türkiye
seen from Malaysia
seen from Germany
seen from China
Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis), family Cryptobranchidae, found in freshwater streams in the eastern US
Top - 2 males fighting over a den site.
Bttm - the same 2 males, with a female trying to get in (beneath them) and mate with the winner (presumably).
photographs by Anton Sorokin
Chinese Giant Salamander
An Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) also known as the snot otter, devil-dog, lasagna lizard, grampus, mud devil, or Allegheny alligator, in Tennessee, USA
by Kevin Stohlgren
hellbender!
I've previously done a poll on the Ozark hellbender but I'll do hellbenders in general for this one!
Have you seen the hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)?
I have now
Yes, in photos/videos
Yes, irl
I'm not sure
A Big Round of Applause for the Chinese Giant Salamander
The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is one of the largest amphibians in the world, second only to the South China giant salamander (Andrias sligoi) which was only recently distinguished as a separate species. This species typically weights 25–30 kg (55–66 lb) and is 1.15 m (3.8 ft) in length, although It can reach up to 50 kg (110 lb) and 1.8 m (5.9 ft). Its anatomy is well-suited to its aquatic lifestyle; the broad, flat body allows it to creep along riverbeds, and its wide mouth allows it to gulp down any prey it might come accross. Their eyesight is very poor and as a result the eyes themselves are small. A. davidianus‘s skin is typically dark to blend in with its surrounding, and the excess wrinkles provide more surface area through which it can absorb oxygen from the water.
As their name suggests, the Chinese giant salamander is found only in China; specifically fragmented areas from Qinghai to Jiangsu and south to Sichuan, Guangxi and Guangdong. This species is entirely aquatic, and thus is most often found in the basins of the Yangtze, Yellow and Pearl Rivers. A. davidianus lives in caves or freshwater crevices, although they are also seen along lakes or open rocky riverbeds.
Part of the reason this species is so large is because they grow throughout their entire lives. Chinese giant salamanders start out as eggs, which are hatched in groups of 400-500 laid in slow-moving underwater cavities. The eggs are quite large, at a maximum size of 14–16 mm (0.55–0.62 in) after they’re laid and habe absorbed water. They take 50-60 days to hatch, and larvae emerge already resembling their parents, albeit with external gills, and are already 3 cm (1.2 in) long. The young are independent, although they typically stay in the stream they were hatched in until they’re fully grown. The gills are lost at 3 years old, although sexual maturity isn’t reached until 5 to 6 years and a length of 40–50 cm (16–20 in).
Mating occurs between mating occurs between July and September, when the water temperature reaches 20 °C (68 °F). During this time, males push sand and gravel out of their dens to clean them-- a process that can take up to a week-- and ‘shower’ regularly by moving under fast-moving currents. Females are attracted to clean dens, and once she chooses a mate the pair engage in a number of courtship behaviors including knocking bellies, leaning side-to-side, and cohabitating. After the female lays her eggs, she leaves and the male guards the eggs until they hatch. Individuals as old as 60 have been recorded in the wild, although few individuals survive past the larval stage.
Chinese giant salamanders have few predators as adults. The most common are otters, red foxes, weasels and hog badgers, although juveniles can also fall prey to large fish or even adult salamanders. To deter predators, A. davidianus secretes a white acidic, sticky substance from its skin. For the most part this species is the apex predator of its ecosystem, and feeds on insects, smaller amphibians, crustaceans, fish, and the Chinese water shrew (Chimarrogale styani). Individuals detect their prey by a combination of detecting chemicals in the water and a series of nodes along the sides of their bodies that sense vibration. When prey is located, the salamander creates a vaccum with their mouths, sucking in water and their meal.
Conservation status: The Chinese giant salamander is considered Critically Endangered by the IUCN. Primary threats include habitat loss, disease, and over-harvesting for meat. National and international conservation programs and zoos are working to raise awareness, conserve habitat, and raise captive-bred salamanders for re-release in the wild.
Extra fun picture for Chinese New Year:
This picture is from a series of paintings by artist Frankie Huang, who depicts a number of Chinese words literally. In this piece, the Chinese giant salamander is shown as the literal translation of its name in China: Wawayu, or ‘Baby fish’. This name comes from the salamanders’ distinct vocalizations, which can often sound like crying babies.
Photos
Theodore Papenfuss
Egon Heiss
Ben Tapley
Frankie Huang (Instagram)
Chinese giant salamander - critically endangered
📍China
The Creature Awaits #102:
Each week I plan to feature an amazing creature, admiring God's fantastic artistry. Hopefully it’ll brighten someone’s day to see something new and interesting if they haven’t seen it before. : )
(Beautiful photograph courtesy of the Smithsonian's National Zoo (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))
The Japanese Giant Salamander
Scientific Name: Andrias japonicus
Region: Scattered riverbeds throughout southwestern Japan
Size: Up to about 5' (~1.5m) long!
Interesting Note: One of the world's largest salamanders, and one of only five known species in the Giant Salamander family, Cryptobranchidae, when full-grown, these gentle giants weigh roughly 50-55lbs (~23-25kg)! Their original name in Japanese, Ōsanshōuo, literally translates to "giant pepper fish" - Cute! : )
The Trinity Alps Giant Salamander is an alleged giant salamander found in the Trinity Alps in California. The Trinity Alps Salamander is described as a brown colored salamander that is as big or even bigger than a Hellbender and some have been reported to be as big as alligators. Giant salamanders do exist however there have been no confirmed cases of giant salamanders in the Trinity Alps region so a man named Tom Slick set out on an expedition to prove their existence however he was unsuccessful. Experts believe that the Trinity Alps Giant Salamander could be a part of the Cryptobranchidae genus of salamanders which includes the Hellbender and the Japanese Giant Salamander.
