buchi salamander; Hynobius naevius
A species of salamander native to Japan, named for its spotted pattern (斑). Scientific name Hynobius naevius.
The buchi salamander is a species endemic to Japan.
Larvae of the buchi salamander can be seen in this mountain stream.
Katakana spelling is common for this species name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
The name combines 斑 (buchi, 'spots') with 山椒魚 (sanshōuo, 'salamander'), referring to its spotted appearance. The exact derivation is straightforward.