Andrias davidianus
CR

Andrias davidianus

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Chinese giant salamander faces catastrophic population declines exceeding 80% over three generations, primarily driven by intensive harvesting for food and traditional medicine. Habitat degradation from dam construction, pollution, and agricultural runoff has fragmented remaining populations across mountain streams. Disease outbreaks and hybridization with farmed escapees further threaten wild genetic integrity.

Threat summary

Habitat

Inhabits cool, fast-flowing mountain streams and rivers with rocky substrates across central and southern China, typically at elevations between 100-1,500 meters. Requires clean, well-oxygenated water with abundant crevices and caves for shelter during daylight hours.

Forest· majorRocky areas· majorCaves and subterranean habitats· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies managementSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservationAwareness & communicationsLegislation

Other threatened species in CRYPTOBRANCHIDAE

VU

Hellbender

Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

Declining
VU

Japanese Giant Salamander

Andrias japonicus

Declining
CR

South China Giant Salamander

Andrias sligoi

Declining

Threatened in China

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
VU

Scaphophyllum speciosum

Unknown
VU

Nephrotoma lundbecki

Unknown
CR

Camellia fascicularis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Andrias davidianus classified as Critically Endangered?
Andrias davidianus is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Chinese giant salamander faces catastrophic population declines exceeding 80% over three generations, primarily driven by intensive harvesting for food and traditional medicine. Habitat degradation from dam construction, pollution, and agricultural runoff has fragmented remaining populations across mountain streams. Disease outbreaks and hybridization with farmed escapees further threaten wild genetic integrity.
Where does Andrias davidianus live?
Andrias davidianus occurs in China, Japan, and Taiwan. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Andrias davidianus?
The main threats to Andrias davidianus are 2.1, 3.2, 5.1, and 5.1.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.