Rare Discovery of South China Giant Salamander (Andrias sligoi) in Japan: Taxonomic and Conservation

V

Veno

Well-Known Member
"The South China giant salamander, Andrias sligoi, is one of the largest extant amphibian species worldwide. It was recently distinguished from another Chinese species, the Chinese giant salamander, Andrias davidianus, which is considered Critically Endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. It appears too late to save this extremely rare and large amphibian in situ. Another extant species of the same genus, Andrias japonicus, inhabits Japan. However, the introduction of Chinese giant salamanders into some areas of Japan has resulted in hybridization between the Japanese and Chinese species. During our genetic screening of giant salamanders in Japan, we unexpectedly discovered four individuals of the South China giant salamander: two were adult males in captivity, and one had recently died. The last individual was a preserved specimen. In this study, we report these extremely rare individuals of A. sligoi in Japan and discuss the taxonomic and conservational implications of these introduced individuals."
Discovery of ex situ individuals of Andrias sligoi, an extremely endangered species and one of the largest amphibians worldwide | Scientific Reports
 
Veno said:
"The South China giant salamander, Andrias sligoi, is one of the largest extant amphibian species worldwide. It was recently distinguished from another Chinese species, the Chinese giant salamander, Andrias davidianus, which is considered Critically Endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. It appears too late to save this extremely rare and large amphibian in situ. Another extant species of the same genus, Andrias japonicus, inhabits Japan. However, the introduction of Chinese giant salamanders into some areas of Japan has resulted in hybridization between the Japanese and Chinese species. During our genetic screening of giant salamanders in Japan, we unexpectedly discovered four individuals of the South China giant salamander: two were adult males in captivity, and one had recently died. The last individual was a preserved specimen. In this study, we report these extremely rare individuals of A. sligoi in Japan and discuss the taxonomic and conservational implications of these introduced individuals."
Discovery of ex situ individuals of Andrias sligoi, an extremely endangered species and one of the largest amphibians worldwide | Scientific Reports
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I wonder how many South China giants and hybrids. between these and Japan giant salamander do exist in Japan now in situ. It is a huge threat to the native also endangered Japan giants.

It is also a big worry that hybrids between A. japonensis and A. davidianus exist and that quite possibly A. sligoi exist in Japan in some southern regions of Japan.
 
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Kifaru Bwana said:
I wonder how many South China giants and hybrids. between these and Japan giant salamander do exist in Japan now in situ. It is a huge threat to the native also endangered Japan giants.

It is also a big worry that hybrids between A. japonensis and A. davidianus exist and that quite possibly A. sligoi exist in Japan in some southern regions of Japan.
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The article says: Chinese giant salamander individuals have not been imported to Japan since the 1990s. In Japan, Chinese giant salamander adults currently have minimal likelihood of reproducing with conspecific Chinese individuals and must have decreased in number over time, making them more likely to reproduce with A. japonicus and hybrid individuals, than conspecifics. No wild F1 individuals have been observed in monthly surveys since 2011, indicating that the adults of pure Chinese giant salamanders (including A. sligoi) are nearly extinct in Japan. Andrias sligoi is also nearly extinct in China and will soon disappear, even in the introduced refugia of non-original habitats in Japan.
 
Veno said:
The article says: Chinese giant salamander individuals have not been imported to Japan since the 1990s. In Japan, Chinese giant salamander adults currently have minimal likelihood of reproducing with conspecific Chinese individuals and must have decreased in number over time, making them more likely to reproduce with A. japonicus and hybrid individuals, than conspecifics. No wild F1 individuals have been observed in monthly surveys since 2011, indicating that the adults of pure Chinese giant salamanders (including A. sligoi) are nearly extinct in Japan. Andrias sligoi is also nearly extinct in China and will soon disappear, even in the introduced refugia of non-original habitats in Japan.
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I know what was published on record in the feature and digested what you highlighted here already before posting my query / question.

My main queries concern which hybrids and crossbreeds and pure-bred Chinese A. davidianus may be left in the major Rivers of Japan harbouring A. japonensis. This has to be a total count with all specimens caught, this is over years and only piece-meal inventory and surverying the Kamu and other central Rivers systems.... So, the question still stands ...


Another interesting fact about the Andrias complex is that the Japanese University survey team has been studying in situ populations of the main Chinese giants (davidianus) and specifically looking for A. sligoi and A. jiangxiensis in PR China. It will be important also to study zoo collections worldwide for A. sligoi and A. jiangxiensis.
 
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