The 5 Largest Amphibians in the World

Amphibians (Amphibia) are a class of primarily semi-aquatic animals, including frogs (Anura), salamanders (Urodela), and caecilians (Gymnophiona). All extant species of amphibians belong to the subclass Lissamphibia. The majority of amphibians are fairly small, weighing only a few ounces. However, several species of giant salamanders (Cryptobranchidae) live up to their name. Giant salamanders are fully aquatic and, ironically, are poor swimmers; instead, they walk along the riverbed. Continue reading to learn about the five largest amphibians in the world.

5. Two-toed Amphiuma

The two-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma means) measures 1.2 to 2.5 feet long and weighs up to 2.3 pounds. Large specimens can measure up to 3.8 feet long. They are widely distributed throughout the Southeastern United States, living in the shallow, heavily vegetated waters of swamps, ponds, lakes, and bayous. This habitat is ideal for amphiumas, as they are burrowers. Two-toed amphiumas both actively forage for food and lie in wait for prey in their burrows and under debris. They primarily prey on fish, tadpoles, crawfish, and insects, but are also known to prey on fellow amphibians such as greater sirens (Siren lacertina), Southern leopard frogs (Lithobates sphenocephalus or Rana sphenocephala), and Eastern newts (Notophthalmus viridescens).

The two-toed amphiuma’s relative, the three-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma tridactylum), is notable for having the largest red blood cells of any animal, measuring 70×40 μm. However, they are smaller than the two-toed amphiuma, measuring a maximum of 3.4 feet long, and no verifiable weight has been recorded.

4. Hellbender

Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) typically measure between 1 and 2.5 feet and weigh 2 to 4 pounds. Large specimens can weigh up to 5.5 pounds, making them the largest amphibian in their native range. They are found in the Eastern United States from Southern New York to Northern Mississippi. Hellbenders exclusively live in clean, clear, cool, shallow, fast-moving rocky streams. These factors facilitate a high concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water. Because adult hellbenders do not have gills, instead absorbing oxygen through their skin, these waters are essential to their survival.

Hellbenders are seldom seen, as they are nocturnal and solitary, living under rocks and gravel or in holes in stream banks. However, because of their specific habitat, collectors have been able to find and catch them easily. This, combined with habitat loss caused by the construction of dams and water pollution, has led to a significant decline in hellbender populations. The IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable.

3. Japanese Giant Salamander

The Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) is the third-largest amphibian in the world, typically measuring up to 5 feet long and weighing up to 55 pounds. The largest specimen caught in the wild weighed 58 pounds and measured 4.46 feet long. They are endemic to Japan, specifically in Western Honshu, Northern Kyushu, and Shikoku. Adults primarily prey on freshwater crabs, worms, frogs, fish, and insects. They have a slow metabolism and can go weeks without eating.

Like the hellbender, the Japanese giant salamander lacks gills. Therefore, their habitat is also restricted to clear, cool, flowing streams with highly oxygenated water. They live in dens that they build in the banks of these freshwater streams. Similar to the hellbender, the Japanese giant salamander is threatened by collectors, dam construction, and water pollution. Other threats to the species include concrete river banks, destruction of river banks by storms, and introgressive hybridization with Chinese giant salamanders (Andrias davidianus) diluting their gene pool. The IUCN lists the Japanese giant salamander as Vulnerable.

2. Chinese Giant Salamander

The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) on average measures approximately 4.3 feet long and weighs 55 to 66 pounds. Large individuals can measure up to 5.9 feet long and can weigh 110 to 132 pounds. They are endemic to the Yangtze River basin in Central China, where they are found in rocky mountain streams and lakes. However, the species has been introduced in Japan’s Kyoto prefecture and in Taiwan. They primarily prey on millipedes, horsehair worms, frogs, salamanders, freshwater crabs, shrimp, and fish.

Chinese giant salamanders are also known to live in subterranean streams, and in some parts of China, only the subterranean population remains because the aboveground population has been entirely poached. Their meat is considered a delicacy, and they are often used in traditional Chinese medicine. They sell for around 127 dollars per pound, which has made them a popular target for poachers and led to overharvesting. This, combined with habitat loss, water pollution, and the Chinese giant salamander iridovirus, has led to a significant decline in population, with the IUCN listing the species as Critically Endangered. Climate change is also a threat to the Chinese giant salamander because they stop feeding at water temperatures above 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit are lethal to the species.

1. South China Giant Salamander

The South China giant salamander (Andrias sligoi) is the largest amphibian in the world, measuring 5.9 feet long and weighing up to 143 pounds. They were originally classified as their own species, but were later synonymized with the Chinese giant salamander. However, studies in 2018 and a paper published in 2019 determined that the Chinese giant salamander consists of several isolated clades, which led to the reclassification of the South China giant salamander being its own species.

The IUCN lists the South China giant salamander as Critically Endangered, and it remains unknown if any wild populations still exist. Threats to the species include habitat loss, water pollution, gene pool dilution from introgressive hybridization, and overharvesting because it is considered a delicacy and used in traditional medicine. However, the species still exists in captivity, primarily on salamander farms.