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Subject: Giant Salamanders From: herm posted Sun, Feb 12 2006, 3:52pm  This was one of my favorite cryptids, too. The bursting of my bubble came when I found evidence to believe that there are records of live Asian giant salamanders being imported to Chinatown in the relevant time period. Apparently they are sometimes eaten. The live speciman captured in the Sacramento River was said to exactly resemble the asian species, except for a slight coloration difference. I think that in the early 1900's in California that some of these Asiatic forms were imported live as food. It is very probable that a few got shown around outside of Chinatown, where hardly anyone would have any idea where they could have come from. Combined with the fact that no modern backpacker or fisherman has ever reported one, it is likely that there never was a native Trinity Alps Giant Salamander. ~h, who hopes he is wrong ;] Subject: Re: Giant Salamanders From: Kraken posted Mon, Feb 13 2006, 3:24pm  Now you've done it herm - went and made me cry, especially the part about them importing and EATING them. Your explanation sounds completely plausible and it's likely the Sacramento specimen despite it's unusal coloration was exactly that. I do marvel how they were able to keep them alive for the overseas trip though. Still I love the idea of these things laying serenely on the bottom of a remote clear mountain lake. If I could pinpoint the exact lake in which they were seen I would make my vacation plans right now (the wife wouldn't be too thrilled tho). I would be interested in knowing just how much human activity there has been in the reported area. Oh well - I suppose I'm just beating a dead horse. I guess it's on to the far more likely cryptids such as garlic loving Sasquatches in Tennessee! Subject: Re: Giant Salamanders From: Sordes posted Mon, Feb 13 2006, 4:31pm  Unusual coloration is not uncommon in giant salamanders. In Asia even golden specimens are known from the breeding-farms. Subject: Re: Giant Salamanders From: Almas posted Sun, Feb 19 2006, 4:34am  It does indeed sound very plausible to me too. As for the color variant, yes, I'm sure that they're not unheardof, particularly from where they're captive bred. Sordes, I'm assuming the golden specimens are xanthic? I wonder if there're pics of them anywhere around. Subject: Re: Giant Salamanders From: swof posted Thu, Feb 23 2006, 11:38pm  ¿Have there been any recent searches for these creatures since the '97 TAGSE attempt? Subject: Re: Giant Salamanders From: Kraken posted Fri, Feb 24 2006, 4:55pm  As self proclaimed patron saint of the elusive giant salamander I can confidently say "none that I know of". Seriously I don't think there is enough evidence to warrant much effort at this time. The best we can hope for is some hiker, fisherman or hunter to stumble on one accidentally. For the record I have pretty much written them off. The 1997 TAGSE so called expedition must have been a blast judging from the report I read on the net and unfortunately cannot find a copy of anywhere (anyone have one?). I would have loved to have been with them and as a bonus I am a pretty fair Axis & Allies player. It seems that the largest slamander in that area are the species Dicamptodon ensatus (Pacific Giant Salamander) which only reach a length of 12 inches. Subject: Re: Giant Salamanders From: Sordes posted Sun, Feb 26 2006, 6:26am  The largest american salamander-like amphibium is the hellbender, a smaller relative of the asian giant salamanders. I have a picture of a "golden" asian salamander in a book about keeping aquatic amphibians. Subject: Re: Giant Salamanders From: KCC posted Sun, Apr 16 2006, 12:07am  This may interest you.

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