The northern part of Maniwa City (former Yubara Town, Nakawa Village, Yatsuka Village, and Kawakami Village) is designated as a giant salamander habitat. The giant salamander is the largest species in the amphibian salamander order of 16 species. Adults are about 50 cm long, and some of the largest exceed 100 cm. Their lifespan is roughly the same as that of humans, but there are records of captive-bred ones living for 114 years. It is said to have remarkable vitality.