Japanese giant salamander  (Andrias japonicus)

The Japanese giant salamander is the second largest salamander in the world, growing in length to a massive 1.5 metres (2). The largest is the Chinese giant salamander, which grows to 1.8 metres while most other salamanders are only 5–15 centimetres in length. The Japanese species is huge and fairly ugly in appearance, though totally harmless. Its skin is a mottled grey, black and cream, and heavily wrinkled (5). This species has an elongated body, a long broad tail and two pairs of legs that are roughly similar in size. The eyes are tiny and positioned on top of the broad, flat head, providing the salamander with poor vision. It is however well adapted to its aquatic life (5).