Satsuma eucosmia eucosmia Japanese name: オキナワヤマタカマイマイ (ヤンバルヤマタカマイマイ)Chinese name: 沖繩高腰蝸牛English name: Satsuma eucosmiaOrigin: Okinawa Islands (Okinawajima, Iejima, Sesokojima, Tsukenjima, etc.). A different subspecies is found on Okinoerabujima in Kagoshima Prefecture. Among the arboreal species of the genus Satsuma distributed in the Okinawa Islands, the following are relatively common on Okinawajima: Satsuma eucosmia shows significant color variation.… Continue reading Satsuma eucosmia
Category: Other Animals
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
Halcyon Giant Centipede
Species information Scientific name: Scolopendra alcyonaJapanese name: リュウジンオオムカデChinese name: 琉神蜈蚣、青龍蜈蚣（TW）English name: Halcyon giant centipedeOrigin: Northern Okinawajima, Ishigakijima, Iriomotejima, Kumejima, Tokashikijima, Taiwan Ecology and description This species was described as new in April 2021 ( Reference ), and it is the third known amphibious centipede species in the world. It inhabits stream environments and is known… Continue reading Halcyon Giant Centipede
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
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
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
Giant Japanese Funnel-web Spider
Species information Scientific name: Macrothele gigasJapanese name: オオクロケブカジョウゴグモChinese name: 巨型長尾蛛English name: Giant Japanese funnel-web spiderOrigin: Ishigaki, Iriomote Ecology and description The Japanese common name for spiders in the funnel-web spider genus (Macrothele), belonging to the family Macrothelidae, is “ジョウゴグモ,” where “ジョウゴ” can be written in kanji as “漏斗,” possibly referring to their funnel-shaped webs. In… Continue reading Giant Japanese Funnel-web Spider
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