Species information Scientific name: Ninox japonica totogoJapanese name: リュウキュウアオバズクChinese name: 琉球褐鷹鴞、日本褐鷹鴞琉球亞種English name: Ryukyu northern boobookOrigin: Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands Ecology and description The scutellate boobook that was previously recognized in Japan was identified under the scientific name Ninox scutulata. In 2002, this species was reclassified as a distinct species from Ninox scutulata. It is further divided… Continue reading Ryukyu Northern Boobook
Author: YambaruWanyu
Ryukyu Green Pigeon
Species information Scientific name: Treron permagnusJapanese name: リュウキュウアオバトChinese name: 琉球綠鳩English name: Ryukyu green pigeonOrigin: Yakushima, Tanegashima, Tokara Islands, Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, Miyako Islands, Yaeyama Islands Ecology and description The Ryukyu green pigeon was formerly considered one of the subspecies of the Taiwan green pigeon (Treron formosae), but recent molecular studies support its status as… Continue reading Ryukyu Green Pigeon
Japanese Scops Owl
Species information Scientific name: Otus semitorques pryeriJapanese name: リュウキュウオオコノハズクChinese name: 日本領角鴞（琉球亞種）、北領角鴞（琉球亞種）English name: Japanese scops owlOrigin: Okinawajima, Yakushima. Previously recorded on Ishigaki and Iriomote, but not observed in recent years. Ecology and description The Japanese scops owl (also known as northern scops owl) is distributed in Japan, China, Korea, and Russia. It is divided into 3… Continue reading Japanese Scops Owl
Ryukyu Scops Owl
Species information Scientific name: Otus elegans elegansJapanese name: リュウキュウコノハズクChinese name: 琉球角鴞、優雅角鴞琉球亞種English name: Ryukyu scops owlOrigin: Ryukyu Islands Ecology and description The Elegant scops owl (Otus elegans) consists of 4 subspecies: Okinawa scops owl is the most common owl in Okinawa, with a body length of about 20cm. The main difference from the Ryukyu subspecies of… Continue reading Ryukyu Scops Owl
Okinawa Woodpecker
Species information Scientific name: Sapheopipo noguchiiJapanese name: ノグチゲラChinese name: 野口啄木鳥、沖繩啄木鳥English name: Okinawa woodpeckerOrigin: Endemic to Okinawajima Ecology and description Okinawa woodpecker is a woodpecker found only in the Castanopsis forests of northern Okinawa. In dense forests, it feeds on larvae of longhorn beetles and other insects from dead trees but also consumes spiders, small arthropods,… Continue reading Okinawa Woodpecker
Cane Toad
Species information Scientific name: Rhinella marinaJapanese name: オオヒキガエルChinese name: 海蟾蜍、蔗蟾English name: Cane toad, Marine toadOrigin: Southern Texas, Central America, northern South America Ecology and description The cane toad, also called the marine toad, is native to the Americas and measures 9–15cm in length. It is carnivorous, preying on insects, land snails, millipedes, small mammals and… Continue reading Cane Toad
Japanese rhinoceros beetle (Okinawa subspecies)
Species information Scientific name: Trypoxylus dichotomus takaraiJapanese name: オキナワカブトムシChinese name: 沖繩獨角仙English name: Japanese rhinoceros beetle (Okinawa subspecies)Origin: Okinawajima, Sesokojima, Iejima, Iheyajima Ecology and description This beetle is the Okinawa subspecies of the Japanese rhinoceros beetle found on mainland Japan, and it occurs only in the Okinawa Islands. Compared with the mainland subspecies, the males have… Continue reading Japanese rhinoceros beetle (Okinawa subspecies)
Kuroiwa cicada
Species information Scientific name: Muda kuroiwaeJapanese name: クロイワゼミChinese name: 黑岩蟬English name: Kuroiwa cicadaOrigin: Okinawajima, Kumejima Ecology and description The Kuroiwa cicada is the only cicada in Japan with a green body, but it is not easy to see. Why it is hard to find: So to find one, you first need to know where they… Continue reading Kuroiwa cicada
Stereophaedusa valida
Species information Scientific name: Stereophaedusa validaJapanese name: オキナワギセルChinese name: 沖繩煙管蝸牛English name: Stereophaedusa validaOrigin: Okinawajima Ecology and description Stereophaedusa valida has two subspecies: The shell is about 30mm long. This snail lives on tree trunks, and the tip of its shell often breaks when it falls from a tree. References:Kubo H, Kurozumi T (1995) 沖縄の海の貝・陸の貝 (Marine… Continue reading Stereophaedusa valida
Orisarma dehaani
Species information Scientific name: Orisarma dehaaniJapanese name: クロベンケイガニChinese name: 漢氏東方蟹、漢氏螳臂蟹English name: Orisarma dehaaniOrigin: Japan (from the Pacific coast south of Miyagi and the Sea of Japan coast south of Aomori to the Ryukyu Islands), the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, the southern coast of China Ecology and description This crab lives in a habitat similar to that… Continue reading Orisarma dehaani