Current status of Japanese giant salamander and the enlightenment on the conservation of Chinese giant salamander

Abstract

To clarify the conservation strategy of the critically endangered giant salamander Andrias davidianus (CGS) in China, field survey and document retrieval were taken to investigate the current status of its congener A. japonicus (JGS) in Japan during August 22 to September 11. Volunteers from all walks of life were found to participate in the conservation and research of JPS across its range. The common population density of JPS reached 38.2-64.3 adults or juveniles per km (N = 5), with the encounter rate of 44.3 ± 34.6 (SD, N = 11) ind./km and the breeding sex ratio of 1.5-9.6 (♂): 1 (♀). JPS usually breeds in riverside caves of streams and small rivers. The recruitment of some populations was nearly nullified because of the construction of dams and artificial riverbanks, the alteration of river courses, and especially the invasion, competition and hybridization of CGS in Kyoto, Mie, and Nara prefectures. This enlightens us to control intensity, select suitable habitats and screen genetic backgrounds when releasing CGS for conservation.