Species information Scientific name: Tuerkayana hirtipesJapanese name: オカガニChinese name: 毛足特氏蟹English name: Pacific land crabOrigin: Widely distributed from the tropical Indian to Pacific regions Ecology and description Narrowly defined land crabs refer to crabs of the family Gecarcinidae. There are 6 species of land crabs in the Ryukyu Islands: The Pacific land crab has a carapace… Continue reading Pacific Land Crab
Category: Crabs & Hermit Crabs
Geothelphusa tenuimanus
Species information Scientific name: Geothelphusa tenuimanusJapanese name: ヒメユリサワガニChinese name: 細掌澤蟹English name: Geothelphusa tenuimanusOrigin: Okinawajima Ecology and description Geothelphusa tenuimanus is a rather small freshwater crab with a carapace about 3cm wide. Its walking legs are very long and slender, and its color varies by individual from purple to brown. It lives in the limestone areas… Continue reading Geothelphusa tenuimanus
Brown Land Crab
Species information Scientific name: Cardisoma carnifexJapanese name: ミナミオカガニChinese name: 凶狠圓軸蟹English name: Brown land crabOrigin: Coastal areas of Southeast Asia adjacent to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In Japan, found on islands south of Yoronjima. Ecology and description Brown land crab, one of the land crabs visible in the Ryukyu Islands, has seen a rapid decline… Continue reading Brown Land Crab
Minei Freshwater Carb
Species information Scientific name: Geothelphusa mineiJapanese name: ミネイサワガニChinese name: 嶺井澤蟹English name: Minei freshwater carbOrigin: Ishigaki, Iriomote Ecology and description Minei freshwater carb is an endemic species found in Ishigaki and Iriomote. The carapace is only 2.5 cm wide, making it a small freshwater crab. The claws are slightly orange-red. Field photographs taken during our tours,… Continue reading Minei Freshwater Carb
Purple-backed shore crab
Species information Scientific name: Geograpsus grayiJapanese name: カクレイワガニChinese name: 格雷陸方蟹、葛氏陸方蟹English name: Purple-backed shore crabOrigin: Tropical and subtropical regions from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ecology and description Within the family Grapsidae, the genus Geograpsus is a group with a high degree of adaptation to land. Land crabs store water in their bodies and breathe… Continue reading Purple-backed shore crab
Miyako Freshwater Crab
Species information Scientific name: Geothelphusa miyakoensisJapanese name: ミヤコサワガニChinese name: 宮古澤蟹English name: Miyako freshwater crabOrigin: Miyakojima Ecology and description Miyako freshwater crab is an endemic freshwater crab species of Miyakojima. The carapace is about 3 cm wide. Currently, only 4 known habitats exist at groundwater outflow locations. The population is very limited, facing threats from habitat… Continue reading Miyako Freshwater Crab
Yaeyama Ryukyu Crab
Species information Scientific name: Ryukyum yaeyamenseJapanese name: ヤエヤマヤマガニChinese name: 八重山琉球蟹English name: Yaeyama ryukyu crabOrigin: Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohama Ecology and description The genus Ryukyum is endemic to the Ryukyu Islands, and currently only includes the single species Yaeyama ryukyu crab. This species is designated as a rare species of wildlife in Okinawa Prefecture due to its… Continue reading Yaeyama Ryukyu Crab
Amami Freshwater Crab
Species information Scientific name: Amamiku amamensisJapanese name: アマミミナミサワガニChinese name: 奄美阿神蟹English name: Amami Freshwater CrabOrigin: Endemic to Tokunoshima and Amami Oshima Ecology and description Amami Freshwater Crab belongs to the genus Amamiku, named after the creation goddess Amamiku from Ryukyu culture. This species was initially considered an Amami subspecies of Okinawa Candidiopotamon freshwater crab (Candidiopotamon okinawense),… Continue reading Amami Freshwater Crab
Sakamoto Freshwater Crab
Species information Scientific name: Geothelphusa sakamotoanusJapanese name: サカモトサワガニChinese name: 坂本澤蟹English name: Sakamoto Freshwater CrabOrigin: Okinawajima, Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, Kikaijima Ecology and description Sakamoto Freshwater Crab is distributed not only in the northern part of Okinawajima but also in its central and southern regions. It is also found on Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, and Kikaijima, making it… Continue reading Sakamoto Freshwater Crab
Coconut Crab
Species information Scientific name: Birgus latroJapanese name: ヤシガニChinese name: 椰子蟹English name: Coconut crabOrigin: Tropical islands along the coasts of the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific (with some islands where they have become extinct). In Japan, they are distributed from the Amami Islands to the westernmost Yonaguni. Ecology and description Coconut crab belongs to the family… Continue reading Coconut Crab