Endangered Animal Painting Series: Chinese Giant Salamander

The Giant Chinese Salamander is the largest living amphibian, growing up to a length of nearly two meters. This particular species deviated from other amphibians approximately 170 million years ago, making it a unique and very distinct creature. Their territory is along the major rivers in China (including the Yangtze, where the now extinct Baiji Dolphin also lived). Giant Salamanders are on the Critically Endangered list of animals and amphibians as a result of an eighty percent decline in their population since the 1960s. The species is over harvested and hunted for food trade, and also heavily impacted by habitat loss.

I don’t know about you, but I really don’t want to wipe out the creature on this planet that looks most like a dinosaur. Simply because it looks like a dinosaur. That’s impeccably cool.

32″x 22″. Spray paint, pastel, charcoal and oil on board.