Currently, most salamanders found in the wild are hybrids. Purebred Japanese giant salamanders have been branded a "special national treasure" by the Japanese government.

KYOTO, Japan – In Japanese rivers, if you’re very lucky, you might find unusual amphibians that grow up to 5 feet long and look like strange cartoon dinosaurs. They are giant salamanders.

Environmental journalist Mara Budgen comes on the show to talk about the Japanese giant salamander, ... So they're kind of a speckled brown color, ... their shape is very different, ...

Japanese giant salamanders are considered to be a “near threatened” species, according to zoo and wildlife officials. The species had not been bred outside Japan in more than 100 years.

Wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin seeks to fulfill a lifelong dream: finding a Giant Japanese Salamander. Skip to main content. WBUR. 90.0 WBUR - Boston's NPR News Station.

The Japanese giant salamander might look like a lump of driftwood when stationary, but this creature goes with the flow and that's probably why it's so cool.

to see an ancient creature found only in the rivers of central and western Japan — the Japanese giant salamander. The amphibian can grow up to 1.5 meters in length, weigh as much as 40 kilograms ...

Japanese traders started importing live giant salamanders from China in the 1960s as a novelty food item. As demand grew, so did concern that this new culinary penchant could lead to poaching of ...