The Cryptobranchidae, although not a household name outside of herpetology, are best known for being the family of the two largest salamanders in the world, the impressive Andrias species which can reach 4-5ft in length. In the US its representatives are the Hellbenders, Cryptobranchus. The Hellbenders bear a passing resemblance to Andrias but are rather smaller, about half the size.
Cryptobranchid species are considered primitive, forming part of the same suborder as the much smaller but more numerous hynobiid species. Common to both families are external fertilisation and aquatic larvae. Zhao et al give other external characteristics as follows: body large, adult size over 250mm and can reach up to 1m; head large, broad and flattened; prominent longitudinal skin fold on sides; eyes small, no eyelids; distance between nostrils is much less than the distance between the eyes; eggs are arranged like a string of beads in a pair of gelatinous sacs.
The very restricted range occupied by these large amphibians was not always the case. Fossil records show that during the Tertiary period Andrias was also distributed across Europe and N America, while Cryptobranchus was found in the west of that continent as well as the east. Lest we think that they have adapted poorly to changing conditions, it should be borne in mind that many other contemporaries from this time, including many giant mammals, are completely extinct.
Cryptobranchid species have been kept in captivity, but doubtlessly less frequently than other newts and salamanders because of their large size, fairly demanding requirements and limited geographic range, which has led to at least some becoming protected species. The Andrias species are considered endangered and are protected under CITES I. Some captive breeding, even with the Giant Salamanders, has been achieved in Germany and in China, where Zhao mentions an enterprising farmer who bred Andrias for the food market.
| Genus | Common Name | No. of species | Distribution | Notes |
| Andrianus | Asian Giant Salamanders | 2 | China and Japan | |
| Cryptobranchus | Hellbenders | 1 | USA | 2 subspecies |
Bibliography - Cryptobranchidae
There seems to be no one single work (at least outside academic circles) dealing with the family Crytobranchidae in its entirety. However, there is information both in print and on the Internet on the individual species and genera, both natural history and captive husbandry, but less than for many of the other Caudata families. Given the rarity and demands of these animals, this is perhaps understandable.
Studies on Chinese Salamanders, Er-mi Zhao, Qi-xiong Hu, Yao-min Jiang and Yu-hua Yang, SSAR, Ohio, 1988 (Contributions to Herpetology series). Covers A. davidianus.
A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, R Conant and J T Collins, Peterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin, Boston/New York 1998. Gives details of Crytobranchus.
Herpetology of China, Er-mi Zhao and Kraig Adler, SSAR, 1993. Catalogue of practically every reptile and amphibian species found in mainland China, Hongkong, Macao, Tibet and Taiwan. There are few details of the ecology of the animals, but readers are referred to a very comprehensive bibliography, and colour plates are provided for many of the creatures listed.
Newts & Salamanders - a complete pet owner's manual, Frank Indiviglio, Barrons 1997. Gives details of care for Cryptobranchus.
Links
Index of newt- and salamander-related articles from herpetological magazines.
Tree of Life has a very useful entry on the Family Salamandridae, including the anatomical characteristics.
AmphibiaWeb is a useful source for species lists and has information on some if not most of the species.
LivingUnderworld.org also has an informative page on the Cryptobranchidae.
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