Japanese Giant Salamander

Andrias japonicus

The Japanese Giant Salamander is a big and friendly-looking creature. It can live for a very long time, sometimes over 100 years!

Habitat: Freshwater rivers and streams

Appearance

The Japanese Giant Salamander has mottled brown and black skin, offering excellent camouflage in rocky riverbeds. It features a broad, flattened head with tiny eyes and a wide mouth, and its body is covered in distinctive, loose wrinkles.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAmphibiaOrderCaudataFamilyCryptobranchidaeGenusAndrias

Japanese Giant Salamander

Interesting facts

Despite their massive size, they spend almost their entire lives hidden under rocks in rivers.

These salamanders can make a barking sound, similar to a dog's bark!

They are 'living fossils,' having changed very little for millions of years!

They can live for over 50 years, making them one of the longest-living amphibians!

Special abilities

Japanese Giant Salamander can breathe through its skin because its large surface area and thin skin absorb oxygen directly from the cool, flowing water.

Japanese Giant Salamander can patiently wait for prey because its camouflage and low metabolism allow it to stay motionless for long periods before striking.

Japanese Giant Salamander has poor eyesight but highly sensitive senses of touch and smell that help them detect prey in murky, dark river waters.

Measurements & details

Length: 60-150 cm
Weight: 5-25 kg
Lifespan: 50-80 years
Top Speed: 2 km/h
Clutch Size: 400-600
Metamorphosis: 730-1095 days

Diet & Feeding

They are top predators, eating fish, frogs, and insects they ambush in their freshwater homes.

Age differences: Young salamanders eat smaller insects and crustaceans, while adults hunt larger fish and crabs.

Primary Foods

fish
crabs
frogs
aquatic insects

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

Masu Trout

Oncorhynchus masou

A primary prey fish in its river habitat.

hunts

Montane Brown Frog

Rana ornativentris

Adults and tadpoles are caught in the water.

hunts

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

An invasive species, often consumed.

Traits

Webbed Feet

These animals have special feet with skin between their toes, which helps them swim super fast!

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!

Carnivorous

Discover fierce hunters and clever predators that get all their energy from eating other animals. They play a vital role in keeping nature's balance.

Freshwater

Discover animals and plants that live in non-salty water, like rivers, lakes, and ponds! These watery homes are vibrant with life.

Regenerative

Imagine if you could grow back a lost arm or tail! Some incredible creatures have the power to regrow body parts, making them truly amazing survivors in nature.