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Is that you, Godzilla? Tokyo zoo’s huge reptile is a dead-ringer for the kaiju when yawning

Casey Baseel Oct 4, 2017
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Carnivorous kaiju-lookalike doesn’t yawn because it’s sleepy, though.

Japan has a reputation for being a very safe country, and that extends to the nation’s wildlife as well. Yes, there are bears and poisonous blowfish, but you’re unlikely to encounter either unless you venture far into the woods or out to sea. Heh, you might even say you should be more worried about Godzilla attacking, but kaiju aren’t real, right?

…right?!?

告知です！
本日（9月24日（日））13時15分から水生物館のオオサンショウウオに餌を与えます。大きな魚を大きな口で丸呑みにするので、見ごたえあり、です。
お近くにお寄りの際には、ぜひご覧ください。 pic.twitter.com/zQ1sw00G4q

— 井の頭自然文化園［公式］ (@InokashiraZoo) September 23, 2017

Relax. That scaly creature there isn’t a gargantuan city-destroying monster. It’s just an Andrias japonicus, or Japanese giant salamander, a reptile that can grow to 1.44 meters (4.7 feet in length). Hmm…actually, that’s still pretty terrifying.

Also chilling is the fact that the giant salamander is carnivorous. It’s a little reassuring to know they feed on bugs and fish, not unsuspecting humans, but we can put another mark in the scary column due to the toothless Japanese giant salamander’s practice of swallowing its prey whole.

オオサンショウウオの大あくびです。なかなか見ることが出来ませんが、2週間程度に1回のエサの時間の後には、腹ごなしのためかよく見られます。 pic.twitter.com/HxQFykzuxq

— 井の頭自然文化園［公式］ (@InokashiraZoo) September 28, 2017

The animal, which can live to an age of more than 50 years, is at its most Godzilla-like when it yawns, but that’s something it does only about once every two weeks, in order to aid digestion, according to the staff at Tokyo’s Inokashira Park Zoo, which shared these photos.

Another unnerving thing about the giant salamander is that at first glance it appears to have no eyes…

目はどこでしょう？
オオサンショウウオを正面から見た写真です。 pic.twitter.com/345QIzAocu

— 井の頭自然文化園［公式］ (@InokashiraZoo) July 26, 2013

…but the zookeepers have helpfully pointed out where they are, proving that the animal does not, in fact, navigate by sensing the fear emanating from anyone else in the vicinity (although its poor eyesight means it relies heavily on sensitive vibration sensors in its skin).

オオサンショウウオの目の場所に黄色の丸印をつけました。
目はあまりよく見えていないようです。目の前に近づいた魚やサワガニを食べています。 pic.twitter.com/yBgbnuneTa

— 井の頭自然文化園［公式］ (@InokashiraZoo) July 26, 2013

In addition to Inokashira Park Zoo, the Japanese giant salamander can also be seen in Tokyo at Ueno Zoo. If you decide to stop by the latter, don’t forget to also check out the penguins for even more freak-mouthed animal fun.

Related: Inokashira Park Zoo, Twitter/@InokashiraZoo
Insert image: Wikipedia/Throughthemind
[ Read in Japanese ]