Why is the Japanese Giant Salamander endangered? One of the reasons the Japanese giant salamander is endangered is because it's habitat is being destroyed. This species is also known by the following name(s): Andrias davidianus japonicus. The largest wild specimen on record weighed 58 lb (26.3 kg) and was 4.46 ft (136 cm) long. The large boy size (and lack of gills) are thought to limit the salamander to the coldest, most oxygen-rich streams The Endangered Japanese Giant Salamander: a Real-Life, Gentle "Monster." Asked by Wiki User. Description. Although this is a problem, it isn't as bad as the river destruction. Answer. The primary threats to these animals are habitat loss and destruction by damns and urbanization. The Japanese Giant Salamander is considered Near Threatened or Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, however, there is strong sentiment in the conservation community to have it listed as Endangered. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Wiki User Answered . Japanese Giant Salamander. Another reason they are endangered is because people hunt them. 21 22 23. Top Answer. The Japanese Giant Salamander (Andrias japonicus) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "amphibians" and found in the following area(s): Japan. 2011-03-06 18:52:05 2011-03-06 18:52:05. The second largest salamander in world (after closely related Chinese giant), they can measure up to 1.5 meters long and weigh 25 kilograms. The Japanese giant salamander is one of only three members of the Cryptobranchidae family. The Japanese giant salamander can grow to a length of 5 feet (1.5 m) and a weight of 55 pounds (25 kg). Their biology has changed little in millions of years, earning them the title of “living dinosaurs”. This is happening because people are building dams and destroying the rivers where the salamanders live. The Japanese giant salamander, which at up to 1.5 metres in length is the world's second-largest amphibian after its Chinese relative, inhabits rivers and …