Hai Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Fish (yú). Kangxi stroke count: 19. Page 1472, Entry 37. Pronounced ni (level tone). Shuowen Jiezi: A type of prickly fish. Erya: Explaining Fish: Large specimens of this fish are called xia. Commentary: The modern salamander (niyu) resembles a catfish, has four legs, with a front resembling a monkey and a rear resembling a dog. Its sound is like that of a crying infant. Large specimens can grow to eight or nine feet in length. Another name for it is xia. Sub-commentary: The ni is the female whale (jing). Bencao: The salamander (niyu), also known as the king sturgeon (wangwei), lives in mountain streams. It resembles a catfish, has four legs and a long tail, and can climb trees. During a drought, it holds water in its mouth to dampen its body and leaves. When birds come to drink the water, it catches them. It is also found in the Yi and Luo river regions. Its sound is like that of a crying infant, hence it is called the salamander. It is also known as the hu fish and the mermaid (renyu); its fat can be used to burn candles that do not extinguish. Zuo Zhuan: In the twelfth year of Duke Xuan: Take their whale and salamander and inter them. Commentary: Whale and salamander are names of large fish. They are used as metaphors for unrighteous people who swallow up small states. Sub-commentary: The male is called whale (jing), the female is called salamander (ni). Zhuangzi: Gengsang Chu: In a ditch of eight feet, a giant fish has no room to turn its body, yet the salamander and loach find it suitable for them. Commentary: Suitable means to bend; it means that small fish are able to turn and bend. Zhuangzi: External Things: To irrigate the channels and protect the salamander and crucian carp. Commentary: The salamander and crucian carp are both small fish.