Massive, slow-moving and ancient. Meet the incredibly rare Chinese giant salamander, which can outgrow the average human.
Capable of reaching up to 6 feet from head to tail and weighing more than 110 pounds, Chinese giant salamanders are the largest living amphibians in the world. However, the average individual measures just under 4 feet and weighs between 55 and 65 pounds.
The salamanders live in China’s rocky streams and rivers, where their dark, mottled skin keeps them camouflaged along the river bottom and their wrinkly skin helps them absorb oxygen from the water. They’re completely aquatic, meaning they spend their entire lives in water.
Modern giant salamanders are considered “living fossils,” as they’ve been virtually unchanged for more than 170 million years — since the time of dinosaurs.
Only two other species of giant salamanders exist today: the slightly smaller Japanese giant salamander, and the hellbender, which averages about 2 feet in length and lives in North America. All are considered endangered to varying degrees.
In China, the large amphibians have inspired local lore — they’re often called “wa wa yu” (infant fish) because they can make sounds like a crying baby.
But their place in Chinese culture has been dangerous for their survival, as salamanders are considered to be a delicacy there. In addition to habitat loss and pollution, the biggest threat for these animals is poaching. In the 1960s, more than 33,000 pounds of Chinese giant salamander meat was harvested each year from one single prefecture in Hunan province, according to The Daily Mail.
Salamander skin is also valued in Chinese medicine, as it’s thought to have anti-aging properties.
Watch this video of it’s slightly smaller cousin, the Japanese giant salamander:
