Protobothrops mucrosquamatus Japanese name: タイワンハブChinese name: 龜殼花English name: Brown spotted pitviperOrigin: India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Taiwan, mainland China The population of Brown spotted pitvipers on Okinawajima is an introduced species from Taiwan, currently found mainly in areas such as the Motobu Peninsula and Onna Village. Between the 1970s and 1990s, large numbers of this species were… Continue reading Brown spotted pitviper
Category: invasive species
White-lipped Tree Frog
Polypedates leucomystax Japanese 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 Reference: National Institute for Environmental Studies, Invasive Species Databasehttps://www.nies.go.jp/biodiversity/invasive/DB/detail/40030.html This species has been confirmed on many islands of the Okinawa Islands, as well as Kitadaitojima, the Sakishima Islands (including Miyakojima and Ishigakijima), and… Continue reading White-lipped Tree Frog
Peafowl
Pavo cristatus Japanese Name: インドクジャクChinese Name: 孔雀、印度孔雀English Name: Common peafowl, Peafowl, Indian peafowl, Blue peafowlOrigin: India, Sri Lanka, and other South Asian regions The peafowl was first introduced to Okinawa Prefecture on Aragusuku Island in the Yaeyama Islands, and later in 1979 as an ornamental bird at a resort on Kohama Island. Subsequently, it was… Continue reading Peafowl
Polynesian Rat
Rattus exulans Japanese Name: ナンヨウネズミChinese Name: 緬甸小鼠、波里尼西亞鼠English Name: Polynesian RatOrigin: Southeast Asia Though native to Southeast Asia, the Polynesian Rat has invaded numerous areas, including Japan’s Miyako Island, though the exact invasion route is unclear. This species is skilled at climbing trees and is frequently seen in the forests of Miyako Island. Reference：Japan invasive species… Continue reading Polynesian Rat
Cane Toad
Rhinella marina Japanese name: オオヒキガエルChinese name: 海蟾蜍、蔗蟾English name: Cane toad, Marine toadOrigin: Southern United States to Central and northern South America The cane toad, native to the Americas, can grow to a length of 10 to 15 cm. It was introduced to Japan in the past for pest control in sugarcane fields on the Ogasawara… Continue reading Cane Toad