...us. A. japonicus is restricted to Japan, A. davidianus in China hile C. alleganiensis lives in North America. A. japonicus lives in the cold fast floing mountain streams and smaller rivers of Kyushu Island and estern Honshu in Japan. Thirty million years old fossilized Giant Salamanders have been found in Europe as ell. The giant salamanders are considered true biological relicts. Leading scientists admit that they did not evolve in the last 20-30 million years. For scientist these rather primitive salamanders are clues to the understanding of the roots of Earths biodiversity. As their ay of life has not changed significantly students of Giant Salamanders may provide insightful information on the ecosystems that existed million years ago. In spite of their relatively large body size and somehat frightening looks they are totally harmless to humans. Unfortunately the opposite is not true. Both A. japonicus and A. davidianus are threatened ith extinction. Until the early 50s Japanese Giant Salamanders ere an important protein source for the local population. They ere caught by fishing rod and ere considered a true delicatessen. Accelerated degradation of natural habitats represents today a bigger threat to the Giant Salamanders that hunting, or illegal killing by fishermen. Being old species Giant Salamanders might lost their genetical plasticity. It is ell knon that the older a species is the harder it adapts to ne conditions. A. japonicus is considered an important environmental symbol. Many aspects of their life have not been elucidated, yet. A surprisingly small amount of scientific papers deal ith them. Partly because of their restricted spreading area, partly because their size. Scientist face much more ethical issues ith larger species than ith the smaller ones. The risk of extinction and the limited spreading area rises even more the moral and ethical problems. The financial efforts are considerable as ell.Biology of Andrias japonicusA. japonicus lives to the age of 50 years, groing continuously throughout their lives they may reach a body size of 150 cm and a body eight of 25-30 kg. They can breathe both on land and in ater. The skin that absorbs oxygen direct from the ater allos them to stay immersed for longer periods. Unlike most salamanders they never leave the aquatic habitat. Japanese Giant Salamanders represent the top of rivers ecosystems, and eating almost anything they can catch from insects to fish to mice to small invertebrates like crabs, ithout having any natural predators. Giant Salamanders have a very slo metabolism, and can go eeks ithout eating, if necessary. Catching fish they concur ith local fishermen ho respond by killing specimens and destroying habitats. Japanese Giant Salamanders begin reproduction in late August, hen herds congregate at nest sites. Males compete, viciously, ith many dying due to ounds from fights. Females lay beteen 400 and 500 eggs in the fall, hich may be fertilized by several males. Males aggressively guard the nests, hich may contain eggs from several females, until they hatch in the early spring. aaPAGE PAGE 1jI,7Haa4xtpxfhhg6shPhahk6PhhChhC6shhCmHsHhh6mHsHh
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