Species information Scientific name: Plestiodon oshimensisJapanese name: オオシマトカゲChinese name: 大島石龍子English name: Oshima skinkOrigin: Amami Islands (excluding Yoron Island and Okinoerabujima), Tokara Islands (Takarajima, Kodakarajima, Suwanosejima) Ecology and description This species has a total length of about 20 cm, with a snout-vent length of 6-11 cm. It resembles Okinawa Skink (Plestiodon marginatus) which is distributed in… Continue reading Oshima Skink
Author: YambaruWanyu
Kawamura’s Rice Field Frog
Species information Scientific name: Fejervarya kawamuraiJapanese name: ヌマガエルChinese name: 川村氏澤蛙、川村陸蛙English name: Kawamura’s rice field frogOrigin: Western Honshu (central region and westward), Shikoku, Kyushu, and some nearby islands in Japan; several islands of the Amami Islands (except Yoronjima) and Okinawa Islands (some islands); parts of China Ecology and description Kawamura’s rice field frog is a Fejervarya… Continue reading Kawamura’s Rice Field Frog
Barbour’s Skink
Species information Scientific name: Plestiodon barbouriJapanese name: バーバートカゲChinese name: 巴氏石龍子English name: Barbour's SkinkOrigin: Okinawa Islands, Amami Islands Ecology and description This is a medium-sized skink distributed in the Okinawa Islands and Amami Islands. The specific epithet commemorates the American herpetologist Thomas Barbour. Juveniles have a dark brown body with 5 golden lines and a blue… Continue reading Barbour’s Skink
Okinawa Giant Stag Beetle
Species information Scientific name: Serrognathus titanus okinawanusJapanese name: オキナワヒラタクワガタChinese name: 沖繩扁鍬形蟲、沖繩扁鍬English name: Okinawa giant stag beetleOrigin: Okinawajima, Iheyajima, Iejima, Kourijima, Minnajima, Sesokojima, Hamahigajima, Tsukenjima, Tokashikijima, Zamamijima, Akajima, Gerumajima, Kumejima Ecology and description The Giant Stag Beetle Serrognathus titanus is widely distributed across Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, and Southeast Asia, with 12 subspecies recorded in Japan.… Continue reading Okinawa Giant Stag Beetle
Amami Woodcock
Species information Scientific name: Scolopax miraJapanese name: アマミヤマシギChinese name: 奄美山鷸English name: Amami woodcockOrigin: The main breeding grounds are Amami Oshima, Kikaijima, and Tokunoshima in the Amami Islands, while it is a winter visitor to Okinawajima. Ecology and description Woodcock species are nocturnal birds. The Amami woodcock is a resident bird of the Amami Islands and… Continue reading Amami Woodcock
Okinawa Bredia
Species information Scientific name: Bredia okinawensisJapanese name: コバノミヤマノボタンChinese name: 小葉深山野牡丹English name: Okinawa BrediaOrigin: Endemic to northern Okinawajima Ecology and description Okinawa Bredia is an endemic species found only in Yambaru. A closely related species, Melastoma candidum, has larger flowers and typically has 5 petals. Okinawa Bredia has smaller flowers, usually with 4 petals, and blooms… Continue reading Okinawa Bredia
Blueberry Hermit Crab
Species information Scientific name: Coenobita purpureusJapanese name: ムラサキオカヤドカリChinese name: 紫陸寄居蟹English name: Blueberry hermit crabOrigin: Southern Kyushu, Ryukyu Islands, Ogasawara Islands Ecology and description Coenobita purpureus occurs in southern Kyushu, the Ryukyu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands. It was long considered endemic to Japan, but it has also been found in Taiwan in recent years. Its… Continue reading Blueberry Hermit Crab
Okinawa Geothelphusa Freshwater Crab
Species information Scientific name: Geothelphusa grandiovataJapanese name: オキナワオオサワガニChinese name: 巨圓澤蟹English name: Okinawa Geothelphusa Freshwater CrabOrigin: Endemic to Okinawajima Ecology and description This species is one of the largest in the genus Geothelphusa found in Japan. Its surface is smooth and glossy, with a wide range of colors including reddish-brown, yellowish-brown, and purplish-brown. The species name grandiovata… Continue reading Okinawa Geothelphusa Freshwater Crab
Yaeyama Narrow-Mouthed Toad
Species information Scientific name: Microhyla kuramotoiJapanese name: ヤエヤマヒメアマガエルChinese name: 八重山姬蛙、八重山小雨蛙English name: Yaeyama narrow-mouthed toadOrigin: Yaeyama Islands Ecology and description The Yaeyama narrow-mouthed toad was previously considered to be the Okinawajima narrow-mouthed toad (M. okinavensis). However, a 2020 phylogenetic study further separated the population in the Yaeyama Islands as a distinct species, M. kuramotoi, which is… Continue reading Yaeyama Narrow-Mouthed Toad
Pyrocoelia matsumurai
Species information Scientific name: Pyrocoelia matsumuraiJapanese name: オキナワマドボタルChinese name: 沖繩窗螢English name: Pyrocoelia matsumuraiOrigin: Okinawajima, Sesokojima, Yagajijima, Tokashikijima, Kumejima, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohamajima Ecology and description Pyrocoelia matsumurai is a species of the genus Pyrocoelia and has three subspecies: The larvae of P. matsumurai are terrestrial and carnivorous, feeding on land snails and other terrestrial mollusks. In… Continue reading Pyrocoelia matsumurai