Recently, the Chinese media published an intriguing photograph of a giant salamander, which truly gives a good idea of how big they are.

Some reports of the giant salamanders of Japan and China have been recorded in the 5 to 6 feet range. The Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus), for example, reaches up to 4 ft 9 in (1.44 m), feeds on fish, and crustaceans - and has been known to live for more than 50 years in captivity. The Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) can reach a length of 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), perhaps even bigger.

The American hellbenders and Asian giant salamanders all belong to the family Cryptobranchidae.