Chinese giant salamander vs St. James' shell

Andrias davidianus compared with Pecten maximus

Key Differences

• Chinese giant salamander is Critically Endangered while St. James' shell is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chinese giant salamander	St. James' shell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class	Amphibia (Amphibians)	Bivalvia (Bivalvia)
Order	Caudata (Caudata)	Pectinida (Pectinida)
Family	Cryptobranchidae	Pectinidae
Genus	Andrias	Pecten
Species	Andrias davidianus	Pecten maximus

Evolutionary Relationship

Chinese giant salamander and St. James' shell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Chinese giant salamander

CR — Critically Endangered

St. James' shell

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chinese giant salamander	St. James' shell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chinese giant salamander

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, and temperate coniferous forests spanning the Indomalayan and Oceanian and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Japan. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

St. James' shell

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (China), Europe (8 countries), and South America (Chile).

Chinese giant salamander

The Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus) is a species in the genus Andrias. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Found in Japan. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

St. James' shell

St. James' shell (Pecten maximus) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.