The six-foot salamander that cries like a human baby
This six-foot salamander makes cries that sound like a human baby.
Which one is REALLY true about the Chinese Giant Salamander?
The short version
The Chinese giant salamander is the largest amphibian on Earth, reaching nearly six feet. It ambushes fish from cold mountain streams, senses prey by feeling vibrations through skin nodes, and breathes through its loose wrinkly skin because its lungs are nearly useless. Its whining, barking cries sound like a crying child — locals call it the 'baby fish.'
Why it's so weird
- ✓The Chinese Giant Salamander is the largest amphibian alive on Earth and can grow nearly six feet long.
- ✓The Chinese Giant Salamander lies still on the streambed and then snaps sideways to swallow fish and crabs whole.
- ✓The Chinese Giant Salamander has tiny eyes and terrible eyesight, so it senses by feeling vibrations through little nodes along its skin.
- ✓The Chinese Giant Salamander breathes through its loose, wrinkly skin because its lungs are almost useless.
- ✓The Chinese Giant Salamander makes whining, barking cries that sound eerily like a crying child, which is why locals call it the baby fish.
The Chinese Giant Salamander is about the same length as a 7-year-old.
The full story
This giant salamander can grow nearly six feet long, and it cries like a human baby. Meet the Chinese giant salamander, the largest amphibian alive on Earth. It lives in cold, fast mountain streams, where it lies still on the bottom and waits, then snaps sideways to swallow fish and crabs whole. It has tiny eyes and terrible eyesight, so it senses prey by feeling vibrations in the water through little nodes along its skin. That loose, wrinkly skin is also how it breathes, because its lungs are almost useless. And when it is disturbed, it makes strange whining, barking cries that sound eerily like a crying child, which is why locals call it the baby fish. Its family has existed for over one hundred and seventy million years. Follow for more weird animal facts.
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“The Chinese Giant Salamander is the largest amphibian alive on Earth and can grow nearly six feet long.”
“The Chinese Giant Salamander never grows antlers at all, and the males grow a pair of long curved fangs instead.”
“The Chinese Giant Salamander lies still on the streambed and then snaps sideways to swallow fish and crabs whole.”