Tuerkayana hirtipes Japanese Name: オカガニChinese Name: 毛足圓盤蟹English Name: Pacific land crabOrigin: Widely distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region The Pacific Land Crab (Tuerkayana hirtipes) has a dark carapace, ranging from dark brown to black. Its eyes are also black, and the hairy area on its cheeks is rectangular in shape. It mainly inhabits inland coastal… Continue reading Pacific Land Crab
Author: YambaruWanyu
Sakishima Green Snake
Cyclophiops herminae Japanese Name: サキシマアオヘビChinese Name: 先島青蛇English Name: Sakishima green snakeOrigin: Yaeyama Islands, Miyako Islands The Sakishima green snake (Cyclophiops herminae) is a slender snake, typically measuring about 50–85 cm in length, with a grayish-green body. It has a relatively small head, and some individuals may display dark longitudinal stripes. This species primarily feeds on… Continue reading Sakishima Green Snake
Sakishima Odd-tooth Snake
Lycodon rufozonatus walli Japanese name: サキシママダラChinese name: 先島紅斑蛇、赤鏈蛇沃氏亞種English name: Sakishima Odd-tooth SnakeOrigin: Miyako Islands, Yaeyama Islands The species Lycodon rufozonatus is divided into two subspecies:
Himeyuri Freshwater Crab
Geothelphusa tenuimanus Japanese name: ヒメユリサワガニChinese name: 細掌澤蟹English name: Himeyuri Freshwater CrabOrigin: Endemic to Okinawajima The Himeyuri Freshwater Crab is a relatively small species with a carapace width of about 3 cm. It is characterized by extremely slender walking legs and a body color that is usually tinged with purplish-red. It inhabits limestone areas on Okinawajima,… Continue reading Himeyuri Freshwater Crab
Owston’s Tree Frog
Species information Scientific name: Zhangixalus owstoniJapanese name: ヤエヤマアオガエルChinese name: 八重山樹蛙English name: Owston’s tree frogOrigin: Ishigakijima, Iriomotejima Ecology and description The breeding season of Zhangixalus owstoni runs from December to April. This species was formerly considered a subspecies of Zhangixalus viridis (Okinawan tree frog), but is now recognized as a distinct species. It is very abundant… Continue reading Owston’s Tree Frog
Giant Japanese Funnel-web Spider
Macrothele gigas Japanese Name: オオクロケブカジョウゴグモChinese Name: 巨型長尾蛛English Name: Giant Japanese Funnel-web SpiderOrigin: Ishigakijima, Iriomotejima The genus Macrothele is commonly called “jougogumo” (ジョウゴグモ) in Japanese, a name likely derived from the shape of its web, which resembles a funnel (漏斗, jougo). The following Macrothele species are found in Japan: Although M. gigas and M. yaginumai are… Continue reading Giant Japanese Funnel-web Spider
Ryukyu Brown Frog
Species information Scientific name: Rana ulmaJapanese Name: リュウキュウアカガエルChinese Name: 琉球赤蛙、沖繩林蛙English Name: Ryukyu brown frogOrigin: Okinawajima, Kumejima Ecology and description Brown frog populations from Tokunoshima, Amamioshima, Okinawajima, and Kumejima were once all classified as same species. However, recent studies revealed that although frogs from Okinawajima and Kumejima resemble those from Tokunoshima and Amamioshima in appearance, their… Continue reading Ryukyu Brown Frog
White-lipped Tree Frog
Species Information Scientific name: Polypedates leucomystaxJapanese name: シロアゴガエルChinese name: 白頷樹蛙English name: White-lipped Tree FrogOrigin: Widely distributed in Southeast Asia, from northeastern India to the Philippines Ecology and Description This species has been confirmed on most islands of the Okinawa Islands, Kitadaito Island, the Sakishima Islands (including Miyakojima and Ishigaki), and Yoronjima in Kagoshima Prefecture. It… Continue reading White-lipped Tree Frog
Amami Rabbit
Pentalagus furnessi Japanese Name: アマミノクロウサギChinese Name: 奄美黑兔、琉球兔、奄美短耳兔English Name: Amami RabbitOrigin: Tokunoshima, Amami Oshima The Amami Rabbit is the only species of the genus Pentalagus. It has short ears and strong claws adapted for digging. This species is endemic to Tokunoshima and Amami Oshima. It is nocturnal and feeds on a wide variety of plants. The… Continue reading Amami Rabbit
Brown Land Crab
Cardisoma carnifex Japanese Name: ミナミオカガニChinese Name: 凶狠圓軸蟹English Name: Brown Land CrabOrigin: Coastal regions of Southeast Asia bordering the Pacific and Indian Oceans; in Japan, found on islands south of Yoronjima in the Ryukyu Islands. The Brown Land Crab is one of the terrestrial crabs found in the Ryukyu Islands. In recent years, its population has… Continue reading Brown Land Crab