Species information Scientific name: Eriocheir japonicaJapanese name: モクズガニChinese name: 日本絨螯蟹English name: Japanese mitten crabOrigin: Japan (Hokkaido to the Ryukyu Islands), Russia, Korea, Taiwan Ecology and description The Japanese mitten crab is a relatively large river crab, with a carapace width of up to 7–8 cm. Its most distinctive feature is the dense, soft, long hair… Continue reading Japanese mitten crab
Category: Crabs & Hermit Crabs
Cavipes Hermit Crab
Species information Scientific name: Coenobita cavipesJapanese name: オカヤドカリChinese name: 凹足陸寄居蟹English name: Cavipes hermit crabOrigin: Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia, etc. Ecology and description Cavipes hermit crab is the most common land hermit crab in the mountains and inland areas of Okinawa. Since this species has the highest degree of terrestrial adaptation, the land hermit crabs seen… Continue reading Cavipes Hermit Crab
Iheya Geothelphusa Freshwater Crab
Species information Scientific name: Geothelphusa iheyaJapanese name: イヘヤオオサワガニChinese name: 伊平屋澤蟹English name: Iheya Geothelphusa freshwater crabOrigin: Iheyajima Ecology and description This species is endemic to Iheyajima and is closely related to those on Okinawajima (Geothelphusa grandiovata, Okinawa Geothelphusa Freshwater Crab) and Kumejima (Geothelphusa kumejima, Kumejima Geothelphusa freshwater crab). The anterior part of the carapace is notably elevated,… Continue reading Iheya Geothelphusa Freshwater Crab
Red Flower Crab
Species information Scientific name: Orisarma intermediumJapanese name: ベンケイガニChinese name: 中型東方相手蟹English name: Red flower crabOrigin: Korea; Pacific side south of Chiba Prefecture and Japan Sea side south of Akita Prefecture in Japan; northern, eastern, and Hengchun Peninsula in Taiwan Ecology and description On summer nights in Yambaru, red flower crabs are often seen on the roads.… Continue reading Red Flower Crab
Blueberry Hermit Crab
Species information Scientific name: Coenobita purpureusJapanese name: ムラサキオカヤドカリChinese name: 紫陸寄居蟹English name: Blueberry hermit crabOrigin: Southern Kyushu, Ryukyu Islands, Ogasawara Islands Ecology and description Coenobita purpureus occurs in southern Kyushu, the Ryukyu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands. It was long considered endemic to Japan, but it has also been found in Taiwan in recent years. Its… Continue reading Blueberry Hermit Crab
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
Species information Scientific name: Geothelphusa aramotoiJapanese name: アラモトサワガニChinese name: 新本澤蟹English name: Aramoto freshwater crabOrigin: Okinawajima, Iheyajima Ecology and description The Aramoto freshwater crab has a carapace width of about 3cm and a narrow distribution, found only in a few streams. Other freshwater crabs in Okinawa sometimes leave the water temporarily, but the Aramoto freshwater crab… 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