100-year-old ‘infant fish’ lucky charm for owner   

90斤百岁娃娃鱼凶猛如鳄 配种险生吞“配偶”(图)

13日下午，在巫山县抱龙镇永祥农业开发公司娃娃鱼养殖场里，一条重达90斤，1.7米长的娃娃鱼成为了当地人争先观赏的宝贝。公司董事长谭志祥告诉记者，从他养殖了近10年的娃娃鱼经验来看，目前是国内罕见的超级娃娃鱼。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) - A Chinese giant salamander, estimated to be 100 years old and worth more than 100,000 yuan ($16,000), is a dear treasure to its owner, reported the Chongqing Morning Post on Wednesday.

Its owner Tan Zhiqing, the president of a breeding farm in Wushan county of Chongqing municipality, bought the valuable salamander in 2008.

At that time, the male salamander weighed 15 kilograms. Now it is 45 kilograms and 1.7 meters long.

Tan says the salamander almost swallowed his female counterpart during their first mating and also left scars on his breeder's hand.

Tan, who has invested in commercial farming of the species for more than ten years, finally gave up hope on using his prized giant salamander for breeding.

He rejected an offer of 100,000 yuan for the animal because he doesn't want to part with it, as he believes it brings him good luck.

"It has become a pet for our people," Tan says.

The salamander is nicknamed the "infant fish" in China because it makes a sound that bears a striking resemblance to a baby's cry.

The salamander is critically endangered in China, as they are a food source and sought after ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. Loss of habitat and pollution are also ongoing threats.