Species information Scientific name: Hebius pryeriJapanese name: ガラスヒバァChinese name: 普氏腹鍊蛇、沖繩腹鍊蛇English name: Pryer’s keelback snakeOrigin: Okinawa Islands, Amami Islands Ecology and description Pryer’s keelback snake primarily feeds on frogs. It is often found near streams, irrigation channels, and rice paddies, and is commonly seen on roads during or after rain, where it scavenges road-killed frogs. Unfortunately,… Continue reading Pryer’s Keelback Snake
Author: YambaruWanyu
Ryukyu Green Snake
Species information Scientific name: Cyclophiops semicarinatusJapanese name: リュウキュウアオヘビChinese name: 琉球青蛇English name: Ryukyu green snakeOrigin: Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, Tokara Islands including Takarajima and Kodakarajima Ecology and description Ryukyu green snake is about 70 to 80 cm in length and is not as bright green as the Chinese green snake (Cyclophiops major) distributed in China and… Continue reading Ryukyu Green Snake
Yaeyama yellow-margined box Turtle
Species information Scientific name: Cuora flavomarginata evelynaeJapanese name: ヤエヤマセマルハコガメChinese name: 八重山食蛇龜、琉球黃緣閉殼龜English name: Yaeyama yellow-margined box turtleOrigin: Ishigaki, Iriomote Ecology and description Yaeyama yellow-margined box turtle, a subspecies of the Yellow-margined box turtle, is native to the Yaeyama Islands. Habitat destruction and poaching have led to a decline in its population. Since the 1970s, this species has also been found… Continue reading Yaeyama yellow-margined box Turtle
Lidth’s jay
Species information Scientific name: Garrulus lidthiJapanese name: ルリカケスChinese name: 琉球松鴉English name: Lidth’s jayNative to: Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, Ukejima Ecology and description Lidth’s jay is endemic to Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima and Ukejima (Tokunoshima has only a record from 1920). It is a National Natural Monument of Japan and the prefectural bird of Kagoshima. It declined in… Continue reading Lidth’s jay
Habu
Species information Scientific name: Protobothrops flavoviridisJapanese Name: ハブChinese Name: 波布、黄綠龜殼花English Name: HabuOrigin: Some islands of the Okinawa Islands and Amami Islands Ecology and description The Habu is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most beautiful and fascinating snakes, yet it is also one of the most venomous and dangerous. It is found on certain islands of the… Continue reading Habu
Okinawa Narrow-mouthed Toad
Species information Scientific name: Microhyla okinavensisJapanese name: ヒメアマガエルChinese name: 沖繩小雨蛙、沖繩飾紋姬蛙English name: Okinawa narrow-mouthed toadOrigin: Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, and Miyako Islands Ecology and description Originally, the Okinawa narrow-mouthed toad and the Taiwanese narrow-mouthed toad were both classified under the South Asian M. ornata. However, a phylogenetic study in 2005 reclassified the Taiwanese population as M.… Continue reading Okinawa Narrow-mouthed Toad
Ryukyu Kajika Frog
Species information Scientific name: Buergeria japonicaJapanese name: リュウキュウカジカガエルChinese name: 日本樹蛙、日本河鹿蛙English name: Ryukyu kajika frogOrigin: Tokara Islands, Okinawa Islands, Amami Islands Ecology and description Ryukyu kajika frog is not actually found on Japan’s Honshu island but is distributed throughout the Ryukyu Islands south of Kuchinoshima in the Tokara Islands (excluding the Miyako Islands, Kita Daito, and… Continue reading Ryukyu Kajika Frog
Himehabu
Species information Scientific name: Ovophis okinavensisJapanese name: ヒメハブChinese name: 姬波布, 沖繩烙鐵頭English name: Himehabu, Okinawa pit viperOrigin: Okinawa Islands (Okinawajima, Iheyajima, Iejima, Kumejima, Tokashikijima), Amami Islands (Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, Ukejima, Yorojima, Tokunoshima) Ecology and description The Himehabu is a venomous snake that grows up to 80 cm in length. Its Japanese name, “Himehabu,” includes the word… Continue reading Himehabu
Ryukyu Odd-tooth Snake
Species information Scientific name: Lycondon semicarinatumJapanese name: アカマタChinese name: 琉球紅斑蛇、半稜狼齒蛇English name: Ryukyu odd-tooth snakeOrigin: Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands Ecology and description The Ryukyu odd-tooth snake is a non-venomous species that can grow up to 170 cm in length. However, juveniles are particularly aggressive. It is one of the most commonly encountered snakes in Yambaru and… Continue reading Ryukyu Odd-tooth Snake
Rusty-leaf Mucuna
Species information Scientific name: Mucuna macrocarpaJapanese name: イルカンダChinese name: 血藤English name: Rusty-leaf MucunaOrigin: Southern China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Amami Oshima to Okinawa Islands, and India. Ecology and description The Japanese name “Iru-kanda” is derived from the Okinawan dialect; “イル（iru）” means “color” in Okinawan, and “カンダ（kanda）” means “vine.” Rusty-leaf Mucuna is commonly found in the forests of… Continue reading Rusty-leaf Mucuna