Japanese Giant Salamander

The Japanese Giant Salamander is one of the world's largest amphibians, native to the cool…

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28 worksheets · answer keys · full story · quiz · Ages 8-10 · CEFR B1

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The story

The River Guardian

Hello from the cool waters of Japan. I am a Japanese Giant Salamander, but my home country has a special name for me: Ōsanshōuo. This name means ‘giant pepper fish,’ and it comes from a funny little trick I have. When I feel scared or threatened, my skin releases a milky white substance that smells just like Japanese pepper. It’s my way of saying, “Please leave me alone.” I spend my days in the clear, fast-flowing streams and rivers of the mountains. I love the feeling of the cold water rushing over my skin and the safety of my favorite hiding spots under large rocks on the riverbed. My home is my whole world, and the constant flow of the water is like a gentle, steady song that I’ve known my entire life. It’s a peaceful, quiet existence, hidden away beneath the surface.

Wow facts

About

The Japanese Giant Salamander is one of the world's largest amphibians, native to the cool, clear streams of Japan. It is a nocturnal predator known for its wrinkly skin which helps it absorb oxygen from the water.

First described to Western science 1836 CE

Designated a Special Natural Monument 1952 CE