Coenobita purpureus Japanese name: ムラサキオカヤドカリChinese name: 紫陸寄居蟹English name: Blueberry Hermit CrabOrigin: Japan, Taiwan The Blueberry Hermit Crab was once considered endemic to Japan but has recently been discovered in Taiwan as well. Juveniles are pale gray and difficult to distinguish from other land hermit crab species. However, adults develop a striking purple coloration, which unfortunately… Continue reading Blueberry Hermit Crab
Category: Crabs & Hermit Crabs
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
Okinawa Candidiopotamon Freshwater Crab
Species information Scientific name: Candidiopotamon okinawenseJapanese name: オキナワミナミザワガニChinese name: 沖繩明溪蟹English name: Okinawa Candidiopotamon freshwater crabOrigin: Endemic to Okinawajima Ecology and description The genus Candidiopotamon is found only in Taiwan and parts of the Central Ryukyus. Five species are currently known, three in Okinawa Prefecture and two in Taiwan: Candidiopotamon okinawense, the species found on Okinawajima,… Continue reading Okinawa Candidiopotamon Freshwater Crab
Kumejima Geothelphusa Freshwater Crab
Species information Scientific name: Geothelphusa kumejimaJapanese name: クメジマオオサワガニChinese name: 久米澤蟹English name: Kumejima Geothelphusa freshwater crabOrigin: Endemic to Kumejima Ecology and description This species is an endemic freshwater crab of Kumejima, and its body color is mostly bright purple. Field photographs taken during our tours, with observation dates
Aramoto Freshwater Crab
Geothelphusa aramotoi Japanese name: アラモトサワガニChinese name: 新本澤蟹English name: Aramoto Freshwater CrabOrigin: Okinawajima, Iheyajima Geothelphusa aramotoi is a freshwater crab with a carapace width of about 3 cm and has the most limited distribution among the species found on Okinawajima. It is restricted to specific mountain stream basins. Unlike other freshwater crabs that may leave the… Continue reading Aramoto Freshwater Crab
Kumejima Candidiopotamon Freshwater Crab
Species information Scientific name: Candidiopotamon kumejimenseJapanese name: クメジマミナミサワガニChinese name: 久米明溪蟹English name: Kumejima Candidiopotamon Freshwater CrabOrigin: Kumejima Ecology and description This species is endemic to Kumejima. Compared to Kumejima Geothelphusa freshwater Crab, which is also found on Kumejima, the Kumejima Candidiopotamon freshwater crab has many protrusions on its carapace, which makes it easy to distinguish between… Continue reading Kumejima Candidiopotamon Freshwater Crab
Pacific Land Crab
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
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
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
Minei Freshwater Crab
Geothelphusa minei Japanese Name: ミネイサワガニChinese Name: 嶺井澤蟹English Name: Minei Freshwater CrabOrigin: Ishigakijima, Iriomotejima The Minei Freshwater Crab is an endemic species found only on Ishigakijima and Iriomotejima. It is a small freshwater crab with a carapace length of about 2.5 cm. Its claws are slightly reddish-orange in color.