Introduction to the Distribution of Giant Salamander Habitats: The Main Producing Areas Are Concentrated in Mountain Streams of the South

The giant salamander, whose scientific name is Andrias davidianus, gets its Chinese name ("baby fish") because its call sounds like a baby crying. It is the largest living amphibian and is a Class II protected animal in China. The so-called giant salamander producing areas refer both to the natural distribution range of wild giant salamanders and to the artificial breeding areas that have gradually developed in various places today.

In terms of natural distribution, wild giant salamanders mainly inhabit the mountain streams of the tributaries in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze, Yellow and Pearl Rivers, and are commonly found in the mountainous areas of Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Jiangxi and other provinces. These places have high mountains, dense forests and crisscrossing streams, providing a hidden and stable living environment for giant salamanders.

Giant salamanders are extremely demanding about their habitat, preferring mountain streams, rock crevices and karst caves with clear water, low water temperature and sufficient dissolved oxygen. Once the water body is polluted or the habitat is destroyed, its population will decline noticeably. Therefore, wild giant salamanders are listed as a key protection target, and catching and trading them at will is prohibited.

In terms of artificial breeding, relatively concentrated breeding areas have formed in Hanzhong, Shaanxi, as well as in Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei and other places. Breeders must obtain relevant permits such as those for the domestication and breeding of aquatic wildlife in accordance with the law, and only second-generation individuals bred in accordance with regulations may enter market circulation. For ordinary consumers, when purchasing, they should make sure to identify a legal source and must never buy wild giant salamanders.