In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

For your reports/images, made outside Europe and the "Mediterranean" countries. Not to be too narrow minded and limited to our European/Mediterranean herps.

In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

Postby Bobby Bok » Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:28 pm

The end of last month Laura and I were in the position to travel together to Japan and search for an animal we both wanted to see in the wild since early childhood. During our stay we could observe as many as 17 Japanese Giant Salamanders (Andrias japonicus) in the wild, besides visiting the Hanzaki institute and the Osaka aquarium where we could see lots of captive animals. What a fantastic animals and what a fantastic country! My tripreport can be found on my website:

http://www.herpsafari.nl/tripreports-ou ... an-kansai/

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Japanese Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicus)

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Tago's Brown Frog (Rana tagoi)

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Japanese Macaque (Macaca fuscata)
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Re: In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

Postby Laura Bok » Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:11 pm

A lucky position indeed - while in summer we would have never dared to hope of visiting Japan in the near future, we were already planning the trip in October. Thanks to a neuroscience conference I attended because of my research in neuroscience. There are moments where I really love my job...

Here are some of my photos, more can be found as always on picasa:
https://picasaweb.google.com/tiemann.la ... alamander#

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Andrias japonicus in habitat

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Larva of Onychodactylus japonicus

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Sagano Bamboo Forest

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Falls at Mino River, habitat of Andrias japonicus

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Kiyomizu temple


Enjoy the holidays and have yourself a merry Christmas!
Cheers,
Laura

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Re: In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

Postby Kristian Munkholm » Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:18 pm

I've been looking forward to this.

Wonderful creatures.

Thanks and congratulations :D
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Re: In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

Postby Paul Lambourne » Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:48 pm

Bobby,

Fantastic report, I am aching to go... what a fabulous experience...

Laura, the picture of the salamander in natural habitat.. wow.. I doubt I will see a better picture on the forum.. stunning.

I will interrogate you both mercilessly about the trip when I see you in the Balearic's!!

Paul
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Re: In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

Postby Andre Schmid » Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:46 pm

Very nice report and a little bit unreal those giant salamanders. Thanks for sharing this nice pictures.
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Re: In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

Postby Ruggero M. » Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:19 pm

Beautiful natural places: not right season for snakes, but I suppose those places are probably still plenty of snakes too.
One of my most interesting books is this: http://www.amazon.it/SNAKE-HISTORY-KYOT ... B003XF1EZY
And reading this book one can easily notice the "terrible" habitat modifications in a place neare Kyoto during the '50-'60 years (beginning of the "industrial and chemicals" era).
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Re: In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:44 pm

Obviously very jealous!
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Re: In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

Postby Jeroen Speybroeck » Fri Dec 19, 2014 1:51 pm

Is there a "bad" season to look for these animals?
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Re: In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

Postby Peter Oefinger » Fri Dec 19, 2014 2:00 pm

Great - usually a once in your lifetime experience but Laura & Bobby are doing such trips at least twice a year ;-)
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Re: In search of Giants - Japan November 2014

Postby Robin Duborget » Fri Dec 19, 2014 3:09 pm

Wow ... Great !!!

The salamander picture in the river is wonderful !!! Congratulations !!!
And even if it's not a amphibian I love the monkey picture :) !

Japan never tickle my curiosity but now I will give some tough to this country and his amphibians ...

Robin
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