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Interesting Facts of Red Panda


About Red Panda
About Red Panda

  • Scientific name:

    Andrias davidianus

  • Other common names:

    Chinese salamander

  • Body length:

    2m

  • Body weight:

    65kg

  • Lifespan:

    50 years

  • Natural habitat:

    Resides in cool limpid mountain streams and rivers between 100-1500m above sea level. They need cool, well-oxygenated water ranging from 3-23ºC

  • Distribution:

    Endemic to China, from Qinghai to Jiangsu and south to Sichuan, Guangxi and Guangdong

  • Main diet:

    Feeds on fish, shrimp, crabs, frogs and aquatic insects



Conservation


  1. IUCN 2008 Red List: Critically endangered
  2. CITES: Appendix I
  3. Chinese Wildlife Conservation Law: Category 2

The Chinese Giant Salamander is the largest species of all amphibians in the world, growing up to 2m. They reside in limpid mountain streams and rivers between 100-1500m above sea level, needing cool, well-oxygenated water ranging from 3-23ºC to survive.
Throughout their mating season, they produce a crying sound similar to a baby's cry. This led to their common Chinese name, the "baby fish". Chinese Giant Salamanders rest under logs or rocks during the day and feed by night. They do not actively pursue prey, preferring to lie and wait until their prey is close enough before they seize it.



Red Panda

Fun facts about Chinese giant salamanders


  1. These solitary animals are totally aquatic, only surfacing to breathe every 6-30 minutes. Each breath a Chinese Giant Salamander takes can last anywhere from a few seconds to ten seconds.
  2. Like other amphibians, the Chinese Giant Salamander doesn't use gills for breathing, but breathes through its lung and skin!