Breeding and the Conservation of the Japanese Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicu

s)Report on the Activity of SSC/JAZA (Amphibian)

Kazushi Kuwabara Hiroshima-City Asa Zoological Park

The Status of Japanese Amphibian and the Activity of SSCJ.

Amphibian in Japan: 60 species

Urodelen 22 Anulan 38

RDBJ listed species: 17 species

Urodelen 12 Anulan 5

SSP species in JAZA: 5 species

Urodelen 4 Anulan 1

SSP species of JAZA

Andrias Japonicus R/IUCN/RDBJ Ⅰ/CITES Hynobius takedai En/IUCN/RDBJ

Hynobius hidamountanus Vu/IUCN/RDBJ

Echinotoriton andersoniR/RDBJ

Rana ishikawae Vu/IUCN/RDBJ

Breeding and the Conservation of the Giant SalamanderWhat is the Japanese giant salamander?

R/IUCN/RDBJ /CITESⅠOne of the biggest Amphibian of the World　　　 Living fossilThe Special Natural Monument of Japan

The Distribution and the Population.

　

Distribution of the Japanese giant salamander is showed in red-painted zone.The population is unknown. My estimate is about 30,000~50,000.

Asa Zoo

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habitatt

Landscape of the Habitat.

Dr.Kobara, the first director of Asa zoo initiated this project. Followed by the establishment of JAZA facilities

Himeji city AquariumKoube city AquariumMiyajima town AquariumNagoya city ZooKochi prefectural Zoo

The Start of the Study on the Japanese Giant Salamander.

We found out a breeding nest under the bank on the edges of the river in 1976.

bank

Breeding nest under the bank

river

entrance

breeding bed

The Breeding Nest of the Japanese Giant Salamander

One owner male possessed the nest exclusively.

One female entered the nest.

Several males followed her.

The female came out 2 hours later.

Other males came out too.

Searching in the nest, newly-laid egg-mass came out.

Only the owner male remained and guarded the egg-mass.

　　　↑　　　　　　　　　　　　　↑Owner male 　　 egg-mass　

We made the tank containing the breeding nest.

The aquarium consisted of four tanks linked by pipes.

nettingoverflow

inflow

wooden cover

living nest

Breeding nest

pipe

The first egg-laying in 1979. ‘Ushiroyama’ became the owner male.

The New Farm of the Giant Salamander on Asa Zoo

river

nest nestnest

nest nest

nest

water flow

inflow

Over flow

pump

The New type Aquarium

The egg-laying of the giant salamander in captivity.

Maturing age was known 17 years from her which was born at Asa zoo.

‘IGAGURI’T.L. 70cmB.W. 2.7kg

Weir was preventing the breeding migration.

The egg-mass floating in the river

egg ↓

egg ↑

She was injured in her soles by struggle to climb over the weir.

Asa zoo made an artificial breeding nest.

And we set the breeding nest under the weir.

artificialnest ⇒

We succeeded in breeding in the artificial nest three years later.

We are also working on the improvement of weir.

Water surface

Entrance pipe tunnel

Concrete wall

Artificial nest

diameter 60cm

height 90cm

Bank

The Artificial Breeding Nest under the Bank.

　 ↑↑ a little water flow

The cleaning of the artificial nest with local people.

↑　artificial nest

‘Giant Salamander festival’ has been held at the habitat town since 2002.

JAZA and parties set up ‘Association of the Japanese Giant Salamander’ in 2003.

END