Species of the Day: Japanese Giant Salamander

The Japanese Giant Salamander, Andrias japonicus, is listed as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. Growing to a total length of 150cm, this is the second largest amphibian in the world, surpassed only by its close relative the Chinese Giant Salamander, Andrias davidianus. Endemic to Japan, it is found in small to large rivers in clear, cool, oxygenated water.

Geographical range This species is threatened mainly by habitat loss and habitat degradation. Whilst populations www.iucnredlist.org in remote mountain forest areas are relatively stable, those in lower-lying urbanized regions www.zsl.org are highly threatened. Artificial concrete river banks prevent natural reproduction, and dams Help Save Species prevent migration and dispersal. Introductions of Chinese Giant Salamanders from the 1970s www.arkive.org further threaten the Japanese Giant Salamanders. Hybrids have been reported in several river systems, although the full extent of the problem is yet to be determined.

Habitat restoration projects (e.g. dam modification and construction of artificial nest sites) have been hugely successful in bringing back urban salamander populations. Community-based conservation initiatives also give this species further hope throughout its range.

The production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is made possible through the IUCN Red List Partnership: Species of the Day IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife is sponsored by International, Conservation International, NatureServe and Zoological Society of London.