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Which salamanders are the largest members of the order Caudata?
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Caudata
Tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) are widespread across much of the United States. Although they are generally black with yellow blotches, bars, spots, or even stripes, some are lighter in colour or have olive markings. Tiger salamanders belong to the mole salamander family, Ambystomatidae.
The largest members of the order Caudata are the giant salamanders belonging to the family Cryptobranchidae.
Specifically, the Chinese giant salamander species reach the greatest lengths: Andrias sligoi can grow to 2 metres (6.6 feet) and A. davidianus can reach 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in length. The Japanese giant salamander (A. japonicus) is also among the largest, growing up to 1.7 metres (5.6 feet) long. These aquatic amphibians are endemic to China and Japan and are significantly larger than the average salamander, which typically measures between 10 and 15 cm (4 to 6 inches) in length.12