The suborder Cryptobranchoidea contains the primitive salamanders. A number of fossil cryptobranchids have been found, but there are only three living species, the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus), the Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) and the hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) from North America.
The suborder Cryptobranchoidea is characterized by ancient salamanders. Fossil evidence of cryptobranchids has been uncovered, but only three living species exist: the Chinese giant salamander, the Japanese giant salamander, and the hellbender from North America.