Four-Legged Fish

Four-Legged Fish

　　Its scientific name is “salamander.” Mount Sanqing is known as the “Hometown of the Four-Legged Fish.” These creatures breed and grow in mountain streams such as Bingyu Cave on the eastern foothills, and Pingxi and Tiyun Ridge on the southern foothills. The four-legged fish resembles an eel in shape, with a brown back, a flat belly devoid of scales, and a tail similar to that of a loach. It is small in size, with the largest weighing only about half a jin and measuring 6–7 inches. It is non-venomous, but when cooked, it emits a strange and unpleasant odor. As a result, locals rarely catch or eat it. The four-legged fish is a rare animal that once gained fame at the Panama Exhibition. According to *Huaiyu Mountain Travelogue* (1924 edition), “This fish was sent to the Panama Exposition, where observers found it quite unusual.” (Yushan County)