Andrias japonicus (Japanese Giant Salamander)

[TJ]

I was lucky to catch this young A.japonicus yawning at the Saitama Aquarium today

This facility is located about two-and-a-half hours from Tokyo by train & bus. It has both Japanese (1) and Chinese (2) giant salamanders, though only the Japanese species is on permanent display.

 

[mark]

Lol, nice photo Tim

 

[kaysie]

Well, I'm going to camp out at Detroit Zoo's exhibit next weekend, and I'll show you up, Tim!

 

[clarence]

having never seen any Andrias close up, how wide is that gaping maw?

 

[kaysie]

I'll go with an estimate of 7 inches, from left to right. At least, the ones in Detroit are about that big.

 

[mark]

Kaysie,

I have not been a good Michigander...I have not been to the Amphibian House at the Detroit Zoo to see the Giant Salamanders yet.
I was there a couple years back, but their exhibit was closed at the time. I was bummed. Ill have to make it out there sometime.

 

[TJ]

 

[TJ]

Thanks, Mark

Clarence, I'd estimate its gape at about 23 cm wide, which would be 9 inches.

Kaysie, I very much look forward to being shown up as this is a friendly competition, if that even, from which we all benefit. What are they there anyway, Japanese or Chinese? Score me an Andrias T-shirt at the zoo's gift shop if you can!

Mark Z., these amazing beasts are definitely worth the trip to see in the flesh -- the warty flesh that is!

The history behind the one pictured above is that it was incidentally caught by somebody who was fishing in the Arakawa River in Saitama Prefecture, which is located directly north of Tokyo -- well outside the natural range of this species. It was brought to the Saitama Aquarium in 1994 when it was only 80cm long and 4.4kg in weight. I don't know offhand it's length and weight right now but it's still relatively small.

(Message edited by TJ on June 28, 2004)

 

[kaysie]

Detroit has Japanese, plus a couple of Hellbenders. The giftshop is a huge letdown. As you enter the amphibian house, they have a "Salamander crossing" sign, but alas, none of these signs are in the giftshop (it would make the perfect addition to any newt-room). In fact, the giftshop has nothing salamander related (although it has a few Dendrobates related items). However, I'm definately going to check again. I should have pics posted up next Monday!

 

[TJ]

Here's a map that I took from a Japanese publication showing the natural range of A.japonicus in red, and other places where the species is found in yellow (areas to which they are suspected of having been spread by humans).

As you can see, Saitama Prefecture is not even one of the yellow areas, and yet at least three Andrias (1 Japanese and 2 Chinese) have been fished from the Arakawa River that flows through the prefecture over the last couple of decades.

 

[TJ]

Kaysie, I found your salamander-crossing sign

http://detroitzoo.org/dzs/2000/nov2000/salsign.jpg

 

[kaysie]

That's right outside of their new state-of-the-art amphibian house. But they dont have any in the gift shop!!

 

[edward]

Comming soon,
Crytobranchid Interest Group shirts (and maybe shorts). All funds to go to support research grants and educational materials.
When we have the items available I'll let you all know.

Ed

 

[TJ]

Ed, I'll be first in line for an XL or tall-sized shirt when they become available

 

[kaysie]

I'm so there! Do you have pics of these? Can I have CRYPTOBRANCHUS enblazened across my butt (as is the popular style, I understand)?

 

[peter]

Haha, Kaysie, that's great. =)