Smallscreen News

River Monsters' close encounter with a Japanese Salamander (VIDEO)

By April MacIntyre May 16, 2011, 17:25 GMT

Is there really a fish with "arms and hands" capturing children in the waters of Japan? In this video clip below, Jeremy Wade recalls the events surrounding the capture of a Japanese giant salamander.

This Sunday at 10PM EP (May 22), on Animal Planet, you will see intrepid Englishman Jeremy Wade wrangle a ridiculous creature from Japan, not made that way by radiation.

Is there really a fish with "arms and hands" capturing children in the waters of Japan? In this video clip below, Jeremy Wade recalls the events surrounding the capture of a Japanese giant salamander.

Jeremy Wade uses protective gloves to capture a Japanese giant salamander. The gloves are necessary so that the salamander doesn't slip out of his hands or inflict a painful bite!

Here, Jeremy nets a feisty Japanese giant salamander, the evidence:

Unlike other salamanders, Japanese giant salamanders seldom ever venture onto land. Instead, they breach their heads above the surface to obtain air.
Japanese giant salamanders have what is called "nocturnal super senses." They sport sensory cells on their skin to help them detect vibrations in their environment in the water.

The Japanese giant salamander is also known as Ōsanshōuo, or "giant pepper fish," in reference to the odorous, milky secretion (which smells just like a Japanese pepper) that they produce when threatened.

 
FACTS

    * Japanese giant salamanders have what is called "nocturnal super senses." They sport sensory cells on their skin to help them detect vibrations in their environment in the water.

    * Although the Japanese giant salamander has no natural predators, it may be at risk of extinction in the near future because of continued hunting, over-collection, pollution and loss of habitat.

    * Unlike other salamanders, Japanese giant salamanders seldom ever venture onto land. Instead, they breach their heads above the surface to obtain air.

    * The Japanese giant salamander is the second largest salamander in the world, after the Chinese giant salamander. It grows to around five feet in length. 

     * The Japanese giant salamander tastes just like chicken. (not really, who knows?).