Cryptobranchidae - Giant salamanders, Hellbenders		Classification  Kingdom: Animalia  Phylum: Chordata  Class: Amphibia  Order: Caudata   Family: Cryptobranchidae

There are only three species in this family. They are found in the eastern United States, China, and Japan. They are the largest species in the caudata order. The Chinese giant salamander and the Japanese giant salamander can grow to almost six feet in length. The hellbender can grow to three feet in length.

They have large, flat bodies; short, stocky legs; and laterally flat tails. Their flat bodies help them squeeze under rocks and logs in the water!

The species in this family live in the water. They don't have gills; they breathe through their loosely hanging skin! They eat insects, crayfish, salamanders, and worms. The male makes a nest under a rock or log, and the female lays a string of eggs. The male fertilizes the eggs and guards them for 2-3 months until they hatch.

World Status Key
Least Concern Near Threatened Vulnerable Endangered Critically Endangered Extinct in Wild Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in NH Breeds in NH Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Location Key
Africa Asia Australia Europe North America South America NH Click for More Info Click for Image

New Hampshire Species		North/Central American Species
None		Hellbender - Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

Species Around the World
Africa Asia Australia/Oceania Europe North/Central America South America NH Species
Chinese Giant Salamander - Andrias davidianus		Japanese Giant Salamander - Andrias japonicus

Additional Information

Resource Key
Profile Photos Video Audio

Chinese Giant Salamander - Andrias davidianus
The Chinese giant salamander is found in central, southwestern, and southern China.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Chinese Giant Salamander - Andrias davidianus
The Chinese giant salamander is the largest salamander and largest amphibian in the world.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Chinese Giant Salamander - Andrias davidianus
The Chinese giant salamander can be as more than 5 feet in length.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Chinese Giant Salamander - Andrias davidianus
The Chinese giant salamander takes 6 years to reach sexual maturity.
Source: Memphis Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Japanese Giant Salamander - Andrias japonicus
The Japanese giant salamander is found in Japan.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Japanese Giant Salamander - Andrias japonicus
The Japanese giant salamander can be up to 5 feet in length.
Source: National Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Japanese Giant Salamander - Andrias japonicus
The Japanese giant salamander relies on smell and touch to locate prey like  salamanders, worms, insects, crayfish and snails.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Japanese Giant Salamander - Andrias japonicus
The Japanese giant salamander can survive for weeks without eating.
Source: BBC Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hellbender - Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
The hellbender is found in the Susquehanna River drainage in southern New York and Pennsylvania, and large portions of the Missouri, Ohio, and Mississippi River drainage from western Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, extreme southern Indiana, most of West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, northern Alabama and Georgia, western North Carolina and Virginia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hellbender - Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Adult hellbenders are 11-29 inches in length.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School

Hellbender - Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Hellbenders are found in clear fast-flowing streams and rivers with rocky bottoms.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hellbender - Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Adult hellbenders eat crayfish, small fish, snails, insects, worms, and tadpoles.
Source: Illinois Natural History Survey Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Hellbender - Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
The hellbender has a flat body and a flat head with tiny eyes.
Source: World Association of Zoos Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School