FOUND: A Giant Salamander the Size of a Child
Chinese giant salamanders are the largest amphibians in the world, and in China, a fisherman just found one with particularly impressive stats: 114 pounds and more than four-and-a-half feet long.
These salamanders can live for half a century in captivity. Since this newly discovered one has spent its life up until now in the wild, it’s believed to be much older—possibly even 200 years old, according to Chinese state media.
Now, though, the giant salamander has been brought into human care for protection. You can see it in this surprisingly jazzy video that the China Daily put together:
Chinese giant salamanders can grow even larger than this one, to almost six feet. They are basically dinosaurs: they haven’t changed for a very, very, very long time. Even so, in China, at least, they’re also eaten. When something’s that big, it can make a good meal.
Bonus finds: An 18th century letter about the Boston tea party, the only recording of the guy who invented basketball, parrots using tools
Every day, we highlight one newly lost or found object, curiosity or wonder. Discover something unusual or amazing? Tell us about it! Send your finds to sarah.laskow@atlasobscura.com.
Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.
Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.
Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook