{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "chinese-giant-salamander",
  "name": "Chinese Giant Salamander",
  "scientificName": "Andrias davidianus",
  "category": "Amphibian",
  "summary": "The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is the world's largest amphibian, reaching about 1.5 m and 25 kg in cool mountain streams of central and southern China. It hunts fish and invertebrates by night and is Critically Endangered in the wild after overharvesting for food and medicine plus damming of streams — despite large numbers on farms.",
  "conservationStatus": "Critically Endangered",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Amphibia",
    "order": "Urodela",
    "family": "Cryptobranchidae",
    "genus": "Andrias"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 25,
    "lengthM": 1.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 5,
    "lifespanYears": 50
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Andrias davidianus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Cool, clear mountain rivers and streams"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "Around 50 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity)."
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "About 25 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary)."
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to roughly 5 km/h when moving at speed."
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Critically Endangered (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Mountain streams of central and southern China; critically depleted in the wild.",
    "continents": [
      "Asia"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/chinese-giant-salamander/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/chinese-giant-salamander/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}