What is Giant salamander?
{{Taxobox | name = Giant salamander | image = Andrias japonicus.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = ''Andrias japonicus'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] | classis = [[Lissamphibia]] | ordo = [[Caudata]] | familia = '''Cryptobranchidae'''}} [[File:Cryptobranchus japonicus.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Giant salamander.]] The '''giant [[salamander]]s''' are a family of large [[aquatic]] [[amphibia]], the '''Cryptobranchidae'''. They are the largest living amphibians. The [[Japanese giant salamander]] (''Andrias japonicus''), reaches up to {{convert|1.44|m|ft|abbr=on}}, feeds on [[fish]] and [[crustacean]]s, and has been known to live for more than 50 years in captivity.<ref name=amphibia1>[http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi-bin/amphib_query?query_src=aw_lists_genera_&table=amphib&where-genus=Andrias&where-species=japonicus Andrias japonicus]. AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. 2012. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Retrieved 13 December 2012.</ref> The [[Chinese giant salamander]] (''Andrias davidianus'') can reach a length of {{convert|1.8|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name=amphibia2>[http://amphibiaweb.org/cgi-bin/amphib_query?table=amphib&special=one_record&where-genus=Andrias&where-species=davidianus Andrias davidianus]. AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. 2012. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Retrieved 13 December 2012.</ref> They live in [[brook]]s and [[pond]]s in the eastern [[United States]] (the [[hellbender]]), and in [[China]] and [[Japan]]. == Anatomy == Cryptobranchids are large, fat [[salamander]]s, with folds of skin along their flanks. These help increase the animal's [[surface area]], allowing them to absorb more [[oxygen]] from the water. Their [[metamorphosis]] from the larval stage is incomplete, so that the adults retain gill slits (although they also have lungs), and lack eyelids. Chinese giant salamanders have lived as long as 75 years in captivity. It eats aquatic [[Insect|insects]], fish, frogs and also crabs an