So: imagine an amphibian, about 4 -6 feet in length, with beady eyes, tiny fetus-like fingers, and a gaping maw that opens far enough to wrap around the forearm of a full grown man. Sound a little nightmare-ish? Here's some photos...

Really, could it get any more evil parasite-looking?

Again, can't you just see those little hands grasping a laser pistol?

Both of the above are pulled off of Loren Coleman's Cryptomundo site, but there's nothing secretive about these guys. The Chinese and Japanese giant salamanders are well documented, if bizarre looking, inhabitants of Asian waterways.

Mostly gentle giants, they do have some ferocious teeth, and will bite if handled improperly or if snatched out of a resting place, as seen in this still from the terrific show River Monsters:

And here's a close-up of the teeth of the North American Giant Salamander, maxes out around 2 feet in length. (Photo from the University of Washington Archive):

If you're interested in helping preserve the giant salamanders, check out The Cryptobranchid Interest Group or EDGE for donations or more info.

I'm Dan Stout, a joyfully collaborative storyteller who loves rocket ships, dinosaurs, and monsters that skulk through shadows.