Japanese Giant Salamander
Andrias japonicus
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Range and habitat:
The Japanese giant salamander is found in the
mountain-fed streams of southwestern Japan (western Hondo and northern
Kyushu) at elevations of 200-1000 meters.
Natural diet:
This species eats fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Size / weight range:
The largest Japanese salamander on record
is 4.6 feet. They reach a maximum weight of about 100 pounds.
Interesting facts:
The Japanese giant salamander is the second largest
amphibian living today, exceeded only by the closely related Chinese giant
salamander. It's also closely related to the North American hellbender,
which is found only in the eastern United States. The hellbender is a
much smaller species.
Unlike most salamanders that have internal fertilization, the giant salamanders have external fertilization and spawn. Males prepare a den in a stream and entice females to enter and lay their eggs.
The folds of
skin on sides of these animals help it to obtain oxygen with the rapid
moving water in streams. The giant salamanders prefer cold water, which
has a higher oxygen content than warm water. These salamanders have lived
for 55 years in zoo settings, but their maximum longevity has been estimated
to be closer to 100 years.
Location at The Toledo Zoo:
Amazing Amphibians exhibit, located
in the Museum of Science
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