Trinity Alps Giant Salamander

The Trinity Alps Giant Salamander (Andrias griffithii) is a giant species of salamander native to the lakes, rivers and streams Trinity Alps and surrounding areas in California.

Description

The Trinity Alps Giant Salamander is a member of the Cryptobranchidae family of Giant Salamanders, being related to the Hellbender and Japanese Giant Salamander

These Giant Salamanders are mainly identifiable by their size, usually reaching 2-3 feet long, though some exceptional specimens can reach 9 feet in length. They are primarily Dark brown or black in color with black spots. They have broad heads and wide eyes typical of the other members of the Andrias genus.

Ecology

Trinity Alps Giant Salamanders have similar behavior to the other Andrias and Cryptobranchus salamanders. Preferring to stay in shallow flowing water, where they will happily snap up small fish, invertebrates and other amphibians. Larger specimens will also predate on birds like ducks or geese, and even ambush small-to-medium-sized mammals on Riverbanks, like a crocodile would. If threatened by a predator, Giant Salamanders can bark or growl at the aggressor in an attempt to scare it away.

Once a Trinity Alps Giant Salamander finds a favorable location, it generally does not stray too far from it—except occasionally for breeding and hunting—and will protect it from other Salamanders both in and out of the breeding season. While the range of two Salamanders may overlap, they are noted as rarely being present in the overlapping area when the other salamander is in the area. The species is at least somewhat nocturnal, with peak activity being reported by one source as occurring around "two hours after dark" Nocturnal activity has been found to be most prevalent in early summer, coinciding with highest water depths

Biology

Sacramento River Salamander is a subspecies of the Trinity Alps Giant Salamander

Conservation

Trinity Alps Giant Salamanders are classed as Endangered, being threatened by both habitat loss and poaching for their meat, chinese traditional medicine or as illegal pets.