New book of A.japonicus photographs

[TJ]

It's 94 pages long, BIG (31cmx 31cm) and mostly photographs, including some pretty incredible ones, I hear. For those interested, the ISBN # is 4835214986, and it's published by Biblos of Japan. I know it's available from Amazon Japan at:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/books/4835214986/249-4793772-6975510

....but I dunno how you'd go about ordering it from abroad. The price is a hefty 7,500 yen (almost US$70).

 

[elisabeth]

They're having a special on Animal Plant on giant amphibians, which will include the giant salamander. I can't remember what day it's gonna be on, but it's sometime this week at 8PM.

 

[TJ]

Thanks very much for that tip, Riccilily. I don't get that channel now but may subscribe to it for a month or so just to catch that program! Just in case though, somebody please do record it!

Please tip us off next time as well

 

[elisabeth]

Ok, the show on animal planet airs tonight at 8PM. Sorry about the short notice, but I just saw the ad about a day ago.

 

[duo]

It just ended

it was a cool show i saw a mudpuppy now i want one

 

[TJ]

Too bad I missed it. This is the description of the program "Almighty Amphibians" on the Animal Planet site:

"Imagine coming face to face with a monster so big it can swallow a human arm whole. Meet the world's largest frogs, toads and salamanders, including some astonishing and rare species known for their intriguing encounters with humans."

-----------------

Hmm...I haven't heard any report of a giant salamander ever biting off or swallowing anybody's arm whole, though they can surely give a nasty bite. I suppose if an arm were somehow detached and then fed to the beast, it could be conceivably be swallowed...

Another site says the one-hour documentary kicks off with highlights on cane toads in
Florida, after which viewers are brought to Japan to meet a 50-year-old "monster" salamander, which is 1.5 metre long and weighs 23kg. I read that hellbenders were also featured.

I finally saw that book of Andrias photographs today. Nice? Sure, but $70?!

(Message edited by TJ on November 19, 2003)

 

[erik]

Well I just got my copy of the above book today from Amazon.jp. And yes it is expensive for a book this length, but the photographs are amazing. Alot of the cost is probably due to the extravagant cover+dust jacket, but it is a very well done book. The text is all Japanese, but as stated above this is a picture book, so if you don't read Japanese it is still a great book.

The book consists of pictures of A.japonicus, habitat of A.japonicus through the 4 seasons, and animals that are sympatric with A.japonicus. There are pictures of eggs, larvae and adults.

Definately worth getting if you have a strong interest in Cryptobranchids. I was amazed again at how fast Amazon.jp got the order to me-less than a week both times.

Thanks to Tim for recommending another good Japanese title

 

[TJ]

Sure thing Erik. The photographer, Ryu Uchiyama, also has a number of nice caudate photos in this excellent handbook:

As well as this picture book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0811823067/qid%3D1070274321/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-9988090-2869660


(Message edited by TJ on December 01, 2003)