Species information
Scientific name: Protobothrops mucrosquamatus
Japanese name: タイワンハブ
Chinese name: 龜殼花
English name: Brown spotted pitviper
Origin: India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Taiwan, and mainland China
Ecology and description
The Brown spotted pitviper on Okinawajima was introduced from Taiwan and is currently mainly distributed in the Motobu Peninsula area, northern Yomitan Village, and Onna Village. The commercial benefits brought by snake shows and snake powder (medicinal use) using Habu on Okinawa in the past led to large imports of Taiwanese Brown spotted pitviper for breeding from the 1970s to the 1990s. The current alien population may have originated from those released into the wild after related facilities were abandoned.
Currently, there are only sporadic records of Brown spotted pitviper entering Yambaru National Park. Fortunately, they were discovered and removed in time, and it is speculated that this species has not yet established a population in Kunigami Village. However, caution is needed when observing in the Motobu and Nago areas.
※ Designated as a specific alien species under the Invasive Alien Species Act
Reference: National Institute for Environmental Studies Invasive Species Database https://www.nies.go.jp/biodiversity/invasive/DB/detail/30130.html
Okinawa Alien Species.com
https://okinawa-gairaisyu.com/zukan/taiwan-habu/
Field photographs taken during our tours, with observation dates
Since our tours primarily conduct observations in Kunigami Village, this species cannot be observed. (We also do not wish for this species to invade the Yambaru area.)
