The Cryptobranchoidea are a suborder of salamanders found in Asia, European Russia, and the United States. They are known as primitive salamanders, in contrast to Salamandroidea, the advanced salamanders. It has two living subdivisions, Cryptobranchidae, which includes Asian giant salamanders and hellbenders, and Hynobiidae, commonly known as Asian salamanders.
Some species of the fully aquatic family Cryptobranchidae are known as giant salamanders due to their large size.
The oldest members of the group are known from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) aged Yanliao Biota of China.
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