Japanese Giant Salamanders

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donsilcock

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These rather strange but quite unique creatures live in rivers across western and south-western Japan.

As its common and Latin names (Andrias japonicus) suggests… They are an endemic species of Japan that are both protected under Japanese federal legislation and formally nominated as a special natural monument because of their cultural and educational significance.

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The Japanese giant salamander is indeed quite large, reaching up to 1.5m in length and 25kg in weight. Which together with their large mouth and rather strange features gives them a fairly formidable presence - at least when you first come face to face with them!

They are not the easiest creatures to find or photograph and a local guide is basically essential as you are very much in rural Japan where very few people speak English...

I have used the last several months of being hunkered down in Sydney to completely update my website and wanted to share the updates to the Japanese giant salamander pages.

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Here is the link to Guide to the Japanese Giant Salamander
 
Hi Jim, my trip was Ito san and it was to the Gifu area a couple of years ago.

Don
Cool...I've never done the trip myself, but one of my DM students has done it numerous times.
 
I really enjoyed the whole thing Jim!
Yes, It's quite a unique experience and what a unique creature as well. I'll have to get up there someday soon...
Thanks for posting!
J
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/perdix-ai/

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