Giant Salamanders
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The world’s largest salamanders inhabit scenic, fast-flowing mountain rivers in Asia. These wrinkled denizens of cold water belong to the same family as North America’s hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis). The Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) is the largest species, reaching lengths of up to five feet. This impressive creature inhabits remote streams on northern Kyushu and western Honshu islands in Japan. Soon a few will likely reside at the Zoo’s Asia Trail and Reptile Discovery Center. The Chinese
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giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is somewhat smaller, and occurs in and along tributaries of the Pearl, Yellow, and Yangtze rivers in China. In the wild, giant salamanders breed in September, when their cool streams have the highest temperatures of the year. Habitat alteration—especially the channeling or damming of rivers and deforestation—destroys giant salamander habitat. Both species are endangered, and have been hunted as delicacies and for use in traditional Chinese medicine.
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ZooGoer
32(2) 2003. Copyright 2003 Friends of the National Zoo.
All rights reserved.
