Giant salamander (gigantic): description, dimensions

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

Unusual huge creatures live in Japan, which are the world's largest tailed amphibians. The giant salamander comes in two subspecies (Chinese and Japanese), which are very similar to each other and can freely mate with each other. Both varieties are listed in the International Red Book and are currently on the verge of extinction, therefore they are strictly protected by various international organizations.

Appearance

The giant salamander (animal) does not look very attractive. The description of her suggests that she has a torso completely covered with mucus, and a large head that is flattened from above. Its long tail, on the contrary, is laterally compressed, and its paws are short and thick. The nostrils at the end of the muzzle are too close together. The eyes are somewhat beady and lack eyelids.

Giant salamander has warty skin with fringes on the sides, making the outline of the animal seem even more blurry. The upper part of the body of an amphibian has a dark brown color with grayish stains and blackshapeless spots. Such a discreet color allows it to be completely invisible at the bottom of the reservoir, as it well masks the animal among various objects of the underwater world.

This amphibian is simply amazing in its size. The length of her body, together with the tail, can reach 165 centimeters, and her weight is 26 kilograms. She has great physical strength and can be dangerous if she senses the approach of an enemy.

Where does he live?

The Japanese species of these animals inhabits the western part of Hondo Island, and is also distributed in the north of Gifu. In addition, it lives throughout the island. Shikoku and about. Kyushu. The Chinese giant salamander lives in southern Guangxi and Shaanxi.

The habitat for these tailed amphibians are mountain rivers and streams with clean and cool water, located at an altitude of about five hundred meters.

Lifestyle and behavior

These animals are active only at night, and during the day they sleep in some secluded places. At dusk, they go hunting. They usually choose a variety of insects, small amphibians, fish and crustaceans as their food.

These amphibians move along the bottom with their short legs, but if there is a need for a sharp acceleration, then they also use their tail. The giant salamander usually moves against the current, as this can provide better breathing. It leaves the water on the shore in very rare cases and mainly after spills caused by heavy rains. The animal spends a lot of its time in different minks, large recesses formed among pitfalls, or in tree trunks and snags that sunk and ended up at the bottom of the river.

The Japanese salamander, as well as the Chinese one, have poor eyesight, but this does not prevent them from adapting and navigating in space remarkably, as they are endowed by nature with a wonderful sense of smell.

The molting of these amphibians occurs several times a year. The old lagging skin completely slides off the entire surface of the body. Small pieces and flakes formed in this process can be partially eaten by the animal. During this period, which lasts several days, they make frequent movements resembling vibration. In this way, amphibians wash off all remaining areas of shed skin.

The giant salamander is considered a territorial amphibian, so it is not uncommon for small males to be destroyed by their larger counterparts. But, in principle, these animals are not distinguished by excessive aggression and only in case of danger can they secrete a sticky secret that has a milky color and resembles something in the smell of Japanese pepper.

Reproduction

This animal usually mates between August and September, after which the female lays her eggs in a dug hole under the shore at a depth of three meters. These eggs have a diameter of approximately 7 mm, and there are several hundred of them. They ripen for about sixty days at a water temperature of twelve degrees Celsius.

Onlyhaving been born, the larvae have a length of only 30 mm, the rudiments of limbs and a large tail. These amphibians do not go out on land until they reach the age of one and a half years, when their lungs are already fully formed and they grow to sexual maturity. Until that time, the giant salamander is constantly under water.

Food

In the body of these tailed amphibians, the metabolic processes are very slow, so they can do without any food for many days and are capable of prolonged starvation. When they have a need for food, they go hunting and catch their prey in one sharp movement with their mouths wide open, which creates the effect of a pressure difference. Thus, the victim is safely guided into the stomach along with the flow of water.

Giant salamanders are considered carnivores. In captivity, there have even been cases of cannibalism, that is, eating their own kind.

Interesting to know

This rare amphibian has very tasty meat, which is considered a real delicacy. The giant salamander is also widely used in folk medicine. Interesting facts about this animal suggest that preparations made from it can prevent diseases of the digestive tract, treat consumption, and also help with bruises and various blood diseases. Therefore, this creature, which survived the dinosaurs and adapted to all the changes in life and climatic conditions on Earth, is currently due tohuman interference is on the brink of extinction.

Today, this species of tailed amphibians is under the strictest supervision and is bred on farms. But creating a natural habitat for these animals is extremely difficult. Therefore, deep-sea flow channels were built especially for them in nurseries intended for this purpose. However, in captivity, unfortunately, they do not come in such large sizes.