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The South China giant salamander (Andrias sligoi) is a species of very large salamander endemic to southern China, mainly in the Pearl River basin south of the Nanling Mountains. It may be the largest species of salamander and the largest amphibian in the world. It is extremely endangered and nearly extinct in the wild. [3]
Habitat loss, disease and climate change are thought to be responsible for the drastic decline in populations in recent years. [ 12 ] Declines have been particularly intense in the western United States , Central America , South America , eastern Australia and Fiji (although cases of amphibian extinctions have appeared worldwide).
Climate change also increases both the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, [7] which can directly wipe out regional populations of species. [8] Those species occupying coastal and low-lying island habitats can also become extinct by sea level rise. This has already happened with Bramble Cay melomys in Australia. [9]
Like most woodland salamanders, the Shenandoah salamander eats mites, flies, small beetles, springtails, and other soil invertebrates. [9] No direct observation of predation of the Shenandoah salamander has ever been reported, but potential predators residing within the habitat of the Shenandoah salamander include ring-necked snakes, short-tailed shrews, brown thrashers, and towhees. [10]
The largest South China giant salamander, which researchers said is likely the largest amphibian ever recorded, lived during the first half of the 20th century and was housed at the London Zoo for ...
Japanese giant salamanders in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, showing notable color variation among individuals within the same population. Andrias japonicus skull. The Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) is a species of fully aquatic giant salamander endemic to Japan, occurring across the western portion of the main island of Honshu, with smaller populations present on Shikoku and in ...
The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) is one of the largest salamanders and one of the largest amphibians in the world. [4] It is fully aquatic, and is endemic to rocky mountain streams and lakes in the Yangtze river basin of central China. It has also been introduced to Kyoto Prefecture in Japan, and possibly to Taiwan.
Specific reasons for the decline may include climate change, chytridiomycosis, or volcanic activity, but the main threat is habitat destruction as logging, agricultural activities, and human settlement reduce their often tiny, fragmented ranges. Survey work is being undertaken to assess the status of these salamanders, and to better understand ...