The strange and endangered: Chinese giant salamander
This big guy can reach over 1.8 meters in length, and is the largest living species of amphibian. He is also mighty strange looking. The body and head are broad and flattened, and the tail can make up to 60% of the total length. With a wide mouth, a large tongue, and beady little eyes, he's quite the oddball; and he's not always a pretty orange either. Maybe this one was bred in captivity; but I had to post the interesting over the more obviously ugly.
They have wrinkled, bumpy skin with folds to increase surface area, as they take in oxygen through their skin in flowing water. Needless to say, they are not Critically Endangered because of their cuteness (although the orange one is kinda goofy looking).
Their meat is considered a delicacy in China, as well as a source for traditional medicines. Since the 1960's, it is estimated that 80% of their prior populations have died off.
These poor guys are not exactly equipped for dodging hunters. They predictably hide out in rock crevasses, and are thus easily found and yanked out. They're also nocturnal, so hunters can root around during the day with plenty of light. They have also had problems when construction, such as the building of dams, converts their waters into still rather than flowing.
They also don't reach sexual maturity until around 15 years old; this means a slow turnaround for baby giants. In fact, the really big ones are mostly hunted out; the average salamander found is much smaller.
For more information, check out the Giant Salamander Protection International Website. Don't forget to check out the less-than-cute version of this guy, so you don't get your hopes up.
Their meat is considered a delicacy in China, as well as a source for traditional medicines. Since the 1960's, it is estimated that 80% of their prior populations have died off.
These poor guys are not exactly equipped for dodging hunters. They predictably hide out in rock crevasses, and are thus easily found and yanked out. They're also nocturnal, so hunters can root around during the day with plenty of light. They have also had problems when construction, such as the building of dams, converts their waters into still rather than flowing.
They also don't reach sexual maturity until around 15 years old; this means a slow turnaround for baby giants. In fact, the really big ones are mostly hunted out; the average salamander found is much smaller.
For more information, check out the Giant Salamander Protection International Website. Don't forget to check out the less-than-cute version of this guy, so you don't get your hopes up.
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