Japanese Giant Salamander

[Hamster of Borg]

I want one of these. :) They've been protected since the 50s, and on the endangered species list since the 70s. Their habitat is the cool mountain streams in Japan. This particular one is in a tank in San Antonio zoo... where they actually have to cool the water for it, because normal room temperature water is too hot for them to survive. Getting to around 5' and living 50 or so years, definitely one monster of a salamander. US native hellbenders are impressive, and these put them in their place. :)

http://www.ravnos.org/photos/z-amphs/japanese.jpg

http://www.ravnos.org/photos/z-amphs/japanese2.jpg

Ham

[JD@reptiles]

FUNKY! what a cool ... what ever it is HAHA lol. they are awsome things with a cool defence!

[Tim and Julie B]

Ok just when you think you have seen everything. That is the coolest sal. Five feet? Holy ****! I hope the zoo is working on a captive breeding program. It would be a shame for them to fade away into extinction. Great post Ham! Good to see odd reps & amph being posted.

What kind of defence?

[Hamster of Borg]

I can't find any info on a world record size, but I doubt there are any that big any more... most are probably somewhere around 3', like that one in SA zoo. They had several in various tanks, with the intention of breeding them.

Very weird looking... almost like they have barnacles on them. :)

Ham

[snakemann87]

Hey, I saw the 5ft one it was awesome. I was walking around in the creek in Hiroshima and all of a sudden..............Ok i didn't, but I did see it on TV. The Amazing Amphibians special program on animal planet, it was AMAZING

[Kyle Barker]

They are soo cool. I cant belive that the people that lived around there ate the eggs! Its a good thing they are making money keeping them alive as tourist attractions. How many does the that zoo keep?

[Jeff_Favelle]

Vancouver Aquarium used to have a HUGE one. Wonder what happened to it.