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
Category: Frogs
Otton Frog
Babina subaspera Japanese Name: オットンガエルChinese Name: 隆背拇棘蛙、奧頓蛙English Name: Otton FrogOrigin: Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima The Japanese name “Otton” comes from the Amami dialect, meaning “gigantic.” Male Otton Frogs can grow up to 12 cm in length, making them the largest native frog species in Japan. This species is closely related to Babina holsti, the Holst’s Frog,… Continue reading Otton Frog
Hallowell’s tree frog
Species information Scientific name: Hyla hallowelliiJapanese name: ハロウエルアマガエルChinese name: 哈氏樹蟾、哈氏雨蛙English name: Hallowell’s tree frogOrigin: Okinawajima, Amami Islands Ecology and description The name Hallowell’s tree frog honors Edward Hallowell, a physician from Philadelphia and amateur naturalist who described many Japanese amphibians and reptiles in the 19th century. Males call and breed from March to June during… Continue reading Hallowell’s tree frog
Okinawa Narrow-mouthed Toad
Microhyla okinavensis Japanese 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, Miyako Islands The Okinawa Narrow-mouthed Frog, originally classified under the South Asian species M. ornata, was later found through phylogenetic studies in 2005 to be separate from Taiwan’s population, which was classified as M. fissipes. The Ryukyu Islands population was… Continue reading Okinawa Narrow-mouthed Toad
Ryukyu Kajika Frog
Buergeria japonica Japanese Name: リュウキュウカジカガエルChinese Name: 日本溪樹蛙、日本樹蛙English Name: Ryukyu kajika frogOrigin: Tokara Islands, Okinawa Islands, Amami Islands The Ryukyu kajika frog is not found in Honshu, Japan, but is distributed across the Ryukyu Islands, south of Kuchi-no-shima in the Tokara Islands (excluding the Miyako Islands, North Daito Island, and South Daito Island). A 2020 study… Continue reading Ryukyu Kajika Frog
Yaeyama Music Frog
Nidirana okinavana Japanese Name: ヤエヤマハラブチガエルChinese Name: 琉球琴蛙English Name: Yaeyama Music FrogOrigin: Ishigakijima, Iriomotejima The call of the Yaeyama Music Frog sounds like a harp being played, making it truly unique. It primarily breeds in summer by digging burrows in wetland mud. When observing this species, it is crucial not to step into its breeding sites.… Continue reading Yaeyama Music Frog
Miyako Toad
Bufo gargarizans miyakonis Japanese Name: ミヤコヒキガエルChinese Name: 宮古蟾蜍English Name: Miyako ToadOrigin: Miyako islands (Miyakojima, Irabujima, Ikemashima, Shimojishima, Kurimajima) The Miyako Toad is a subspecies of the Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans), found in China and Russia. It is the only native toad species in the Ryukyu Islands. The breeding season lasts from September to March. The… Continue reading Miyako Toad
Greater Tip-nosed Frog
Odorrana supranarina Japanese Name: オオハナサキガエルChinese Name: 大臭蛙、八重山臭蛙English Name: Greater tip-nosed frogOrigin: Endemic to Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands The Greater Tip-nosed Frog (Odorrana supranarina) is a species endemic to Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands. Its species name, supranarina, refers to its larger size compared to the Okinawan Tip-nosed Frog (Odorrana narina). Males reach a body length of… Continue reading Greater Tip-nosed Frog
Eiffinger’s Tree Frog
Kurixalus eiffingeri Japanese Name: アイフィンガーガエルChinese Name: 艾氏樹蛙、琉球原指樹蛙English Name: Eiffinger’s Tree FrogOrigin: Ishigaki Island, Iriomote Island, Taiwan Eiffinger’s Tree Frog belongs to the genus Kurixalus and is found in Japan on Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island, exhibiting variable coloration. This species lays its eggs in tree holes, with both male and female frogs caring for the… Continue reading Eiffinger’s Tree Frog
Amami Tip-nosed Frog
Odorrana amamiensis Japanese Name: アマミハナサキガエルChinese Name: 奄美臭蛙、奄美鼻先蛙、奄美尖鼻蛙English Name: Amami Tip-nosed FrogOrigin: Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima This species closely resembles the Okinawa Tip-nosed Frog (Odorrana ranina), found in northern Okinawa, but is larger in size. Adult frogs can grow up to 10 cm, and they exhibit color variations ranging from brown to green. They are highly alert… Continue reading Amami Tip-nosed Frog