Andrias davidianus

The Chinese giant salamander is the largest living amphibian, averaging approximately one metre long and eleven kilograms, with historical individuals reaching 1.8 metres. Its broad, flattened body has short limbs, a large compressed tail, tiny lidless eyes, and rough marbled skin that may appear dark brown, green, or black. It inhabits fast-flowing streams and rivers in temperate mountain country, generally among dense bankside vegetation and connected underwater caves or cavities, sometimes entering larger lakes. (Animal Diversity Web)

This nocturnal salamander is an ambush predator that uses rapid suction to capture crabs, fish, frogs, water shrews, insects, other invertebrates, and even members of its own species. Breeding occurs annually during August and September. Females deposit 300 to 560 eggs inside submerged dens, and males fertilize, guard, aerate, and clean them. Hatching follows after approximately forty to sixty days. Once the larvae leave the protected cavity for adjoining streams, they live independently and develop slowly toward adulthood. (Animal Diversity Web)