World’s largest amphibian Chinese salamander may consist of 9 distinct species: Study

A new study has revealed that the Chinese giant salamander, once thought to be a single species, may actually represent as many as nine distinct species.

In 2019, scientists confirmed it was actually made up of three distinct species, with the South China giant salamander claiming the title of the world’s largest amphibian, reaching up to 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) in length.

The notion that the Chinese giant salamander consists of multiple species has been around for much longer, with researchers suggesting this possibility for the past 20 years.

Salamanders’ million-year appearance hides surprising genetic diversity

According to the study’s lead author Melissa Marr, it’s difficult to determine if there are multiple species just by looking at the Chinese giant salamanders, as their appearance has remained unchanged for “millions of years.”

However, to investigate further, the researchers turned to genetics, analyzing DNA differences between various salamander populations and comparing them with the differences seen between other salamander species.

According to the research, although these amphibians appear similar, they have genetically diverged into at least seven distinct species. There may even be as many as nine species, though the data isn’t strong enough to confirm this with certainty, Marr added.

According to the authors, the findings should play a crucial role in shaping conservation efforts for these salamanders. Preserving the Chinese giant salamanders and their genetic diversity is vital for maintaining the health of their ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need to protect these amphibians.

“Our findings underscore the urgent need to safeguard these unique amphibians before it’s too late,” Marr said .

Newly identified salamanders remain unprotected despite endangerment

Chinese giant salamanders are classified as Critically Endangered, primarily due to the overexploitation of wild populations to sustain a salamander farming industry that supplies China’s luxury food market, authors have outlined .

The original species, Andrias davidianus , is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN, with its wild populations having drastically declined due to overexploitation for food and habitat loss. While conservation measures are in place for this species, they don’t extend to the newly identified ones, particularly since only four of them have been named so far.

The authors further explain in their paper that unnamed species cannot be included in national or international conservation frameworks, putting them at risk of being excluded from recovery efforts.

There is a need to focus on identifying previously unknown giant salamander species in China, locating any surviving individuals, and ensuring they are recognized in conservation legislation, said Samuel Turvey, one of the authors of the study.

According to him, without these actions, there is a risk of losing these remarkable animals forever before adequate protections can be implemented to conserve them.

“All of the species we’ve now identified are thus at high risk of disappearing forever. If we are to avoid losing the world’s largest amphibians, we need to act urgently to ensure that these newly-recognised species are formally recognised and legally protected.” Turvey noted.