O<i>nychodactylus japonicus</i> (Japanese Clawed Salamander)

TJ · May 25, 2003

TJ · May 26, 2003

This is the same sal that's sold in pill form as an aphrodisiac

TJ · May 26, 2003

I haven't checked to see if my 3 larvae have developed claws yet but from the look of that pic above, they might have. Here's a nice site where you can see pics of the claws of Onychodactylus japonicus (generally known in Japan as "Hakone salamanders"):

http://www.rieo.net/amph/saramand/sansyouo/onych.htm

The 3 larvae I acquired from a Japanese hobbyist are of the western type, coming from Hiroshima Prefecture. I'm told they're intolerant of temperatures over 20C so I'm keeping mine near the air conditioner at 18C. I've also heard they a bit difficult to keep post-morph. Henk or anybody else have any experience keeping these? Anybody know if any other salamanders have claws?

TJ · May 26, 2003

The Japanese version of the above site has this info: This sal doesn't possess lungs. Compared with other local species, it's easy to distinguish by the fact that the tail comes to account for half or more of the body length. The black nails appear in the breeding season on the front and back limbs of the male. The larvae require a current. Temperature management poses a problem in raising post-morphs.

The newtkeeper I received them from recommended refrigeration.

TJ · May 26, 2003

Excellent descriptions here too:

http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/amphib_query?where-genus=Onychodactylus&where-species=japonicus
(whadayaknow?! -- accompanied by Henk's photo!)

http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~herpsgh/hakone.html

henk · May 26, 2003

Hoi Tim, a bit late perhaps, but I indeed had some bad experiences with these guys... at first they did well, but during the summer I lost both of them .. unfortunattely. THey are georgeous though but I think a collling device might be appreciated

TJ · May 27, 2003

Hiya Henk, yes, I was told they expire pretty quickly beyond 20C. They're now at 18-19C. If the electricity were to fail while I was away from home, I'd probably lose them. I have a cooling device in mind for them once they morph, though I might just keep them in the fridge like others do. By the way, there's a tiny restaurant near my usual drinking spot in central Tokyo that has them on the menu! What say we all band together to establish the Salamander Liberation Front (SLF)?!

(Message edited by TJ on May 28, 2003)

TJ · Jun 23, 2003

This juvie from northern Japan is particularly colorful:

TJ · Jun 23, 2003

Here's the same juvie alongside a larger and also particularly colorful one:

TJ · Jun 23, 2003

Here's one with more typical coloration:

kaysie · Jun 24, 2003

Tim, i have to ask.... what do you feed your caudates? you have nothing but colorful and bright individuals, of all sorts of species (remembering the "pure gold" thread). you must feed them food coloring or something. tell us your secrets!

TJ · Aug 22, 2003

Here's a pic of that "stamina" restaurant mentioned above, and that's "salamander" circled there on the menu.

henk · Aug 24, 2003

I don(t even wanna think about it... damned

TJ · Aug 26, 2003

Well Henk, you'll be happy to learn that such shops are few and far between, and I'd bet only 1 in every 100,000 Japanese has ever eaten salamander before and ever will. Not nearly as common as frog legs in France, rattlesnake meat in the U.S,, alligator meat in Australia...

TJ · Aug 27, 2003

That should have read "crocodile" meat in Australia (I've spent several months in Darwin, Northern Territory, in recent years and several restaurants had it on the menu).

henk · Aug 27, 2003

Ok Tim, didn't want to sound a racist there at all... Even without eating animals we are doing our best in destroying habitats around here while we protect the animals (protect the fishes, but no need for water ...). So we do our share overhere too

I was just thinking about these nice unreachable animals for me, and then seeing somebody actually eating them overthere... Well if anyone is interested in eating salamanders : try those tasty Taricha's first...

TJ · Sep 23, 2003

Taricha's are a bit too heavy on the Tetrodotoxin, wouldn't you say Henk?...or was that your intention?

Went into the above shop the other day and found that it wasn't Onychodactylus japonicus on the menu after all, but rather what looked to me like Hynobius lichenatus. I'll spare you the pics though...

Speaking of Onychodactylus japonicus and eating, the individual I keep has finally gotten used to being fed by hand!

daesik · Apr 23, 2004

Hi,

Do someone has a picture of the egg sacs of Onychodactylus fischeri? If someone has it, please please let me know...

(Message approved by admin)

O<i>nychodactylus japonicus</i> (Japanese Clawed Salamander)

New member

New member

New member

New member

New member

henk

Guest

New member

New member

New member

New member

kaysie

Guest

New member

henk

Guest

New member

New member

henk

Guest

New member

daesik

Guest