A groundbreaking study published in the Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society has revealed that there are nine distinct species of the critically endangered Chinese giant salamander.
The research, led by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) in collaboration with partners in the Chinese mainland, utilized genetic data to examine the world's largest amphibian, which was previously believed to be a single species distributed across central and southern regions of the Chinese mainland.
Chinese giant salamanders can reach lengths of up to 1.8 meters. Their loose, baggy skin facilitates oxygen absorption from water, while numerous sensors across their bodies detect vibrations from prey such as worms, crustaceans, small fish, and frogs, compensating for their limited eyesight.
\"There is a high likelihood that Chinese giant salamanders face extinction in the wild, and it is extremely important to work collaboratively to prevent extinction being the fate of these ancient animals,\" said Ben Tapley, curator of reptiles and amphibians at London Zoo and co-author of the study.
Tapley further explained, \"Our research shows that there are up to nine different species of Chinese giant salamander, but only four have been named by scientists, and only two have had their conservation status assessed, with both being categorized as critically endangered.\"
Samuel Turvey, a researcher at ZSL and co-author of the paper, emphasized the urgent need for action: \"Chinese giant salamanders are recognized as critically endangered. All of the species we've now identified are at high risk of disappearing forever. If we are to avoid losing the world's largest amphibians, we need to act urgently to ensure that these newly recognized species are formally recognized and legally protected.\"
Turvey added, \"The possibility that Chinese giant salamanders may not be a single species has been suggested by researchers for 20 years, but by comparing levels of genetic difference seen across giant salamander populations with differences shown by other known salamander species, we can now confirm this for sure.\"
Reference(s):
Study finds 9 critically endangered Chinese salamander species
cgtn.com
