Andrias japonicus, known as the Japanese giant salamander, is one of the largest amphibian species in the world and is adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle. It can grow up to 1.5 metres long and weigh more than 25 kilograms, making it one of the most impressive animals within its group. Its body is robust and flattened, covered by rough skin with lateral folds that increase its contact surface with the water, allowing it to breathe mainly through its skin, although it also has lungs. This cutaneous gas exchange is crucial for its survival, as Andrias japonicus spends much of its life in cold, fast-flowing streams and rivers, hiding under rocks during the day to protect itself from predators and conserve energy.
Nocturnal, the Japanese giant salamander feeds on fish, crustaceans and small aquatic invertebrates that it hunts using its sight and keen sense of smell. Its head is large and flattened, with small, lidless eyes, adapted to its dark, aquatic environment. Despite its size, it is a stealthy predator that stalks its prey from the darkness of its hiding place, carrying out quick and precise ambushes. Its powerful jaw allows it to capture and consume a variety of foods.
The reproductive cycle of Andrias japonicus is closely linked to the water flow of the streams where it inhabits. During the breeding season, males build "nests" in crevices under rocks, where females deposit hundreds of eggs. Males protect these nests, ensuring that the water flow cleans the eggs and supplies them with oxygen while they develop. This reproductive behavior dependent on a clean, well-oxygenated aquatic habitat makes the species particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Although the Japanese giant salamander is a long-lived species, with a lifespan that can exceed 50 years in the wild, its populations have suffered a serious decline due to the loss and degradation of its natural habitat. Factors such as water pollution, dam construction and urbanization have drastically reduced its range. Despite being protected by Japanese law, poaching remains a problem, as these animals are coveted in traditional medicine and illegal trade.
In ecological terms, Andrias japonicus is a keystone species in its ecosystem, as it acts as a top predator in the freshwater environments it inhabits. The loss of its populations can destabilize local food chains and reduce biodiversity. Its conservation is a challenge, but also a priority, both because of its ecological importance and its status as a symbol of wildlife in Japan.
Approximate measurements of the Salamander:
Nocturnal, the Japanese giant salamander feeds on fish, crustaceans and small aquatic invertebrates that it hunts using its sight and keen sense of smell. Its head is large and flattened, with small, lidless eyes, adapted to its dark, aquatic environment. Despite its size, it is a stealthy predator that stalks its prey from the darkness of its hiding place, carrying out quick and precise ambushes. Its powerful jaw allows it to capture and consume a variety of foods.
The reproductive cycle of Andrias japonicus is closely linked to the water flow of the streams where it inhabits. During the breeding season, males build "nests" in crevices under rocks, where females deposit hundreds of eggs. Males protect these nests, ensuring that the water flow cleans the eggs and supplies them with oxygen while they develop. This reproductive behavior dependent on a clean, well-oxygenated aquatic habitat makes the species particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Although the Japanese giant salamander is a long-lived species, with a lifespan that can exceed 50 years in the wild, its populations have suffered a serious decline due to the loss and degradation of its natural habitat. Factors such as water pollution, dam construction and urbanization have drastically reduced its range. Despite being protected by Japanese law, poaching remains a problem, as these animals are coveted in traditional medicine and illegal trade.
In ecological terms, Andrias japonicus is a keystone species in its ecosystem, as it acts as a top predator in the freshwater environments it inhabits. The loss of its populations can destabilize local food chains and reduce biodiversity. Its conservation is a challenge, but also a priority, both because of its ecological importance and its status as a symbol of wildlife in Japan.
Approximate measurements of the Salamander:
- Scale 1:10 - Complete
- Length 98 mm
- Height 17 mm
- Width 85 mm
- Snout-tail length 150 mm
