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
Category: Other Animals
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
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
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
Amami Whipscorpion
Species information Scientific name: Typopeltis stimpsoniiJapanese name: アマミサソリモドキChinese name: 奄美鞭蠍English name: Amami whipscorpionOrigin: Iheyajima, Tokunoshima, Amami Oshima, Tokara Islands, Osumi Islands (Kuchinoerabujima, Iojima, Takeshima), Satsuma Peninsula, Kami-Koshikijima Ecology and description The whipscorpion releases an acidic gas containing acetic acid from its tail as a defense against predators. This species is endemic to Japan but has… Continue reading Amami Whipscorpion
Taiwan Whipscorpion
Species information Scientific name: Typopeltis cruciferJapanese name: タイワンサソリモドキChinese name: 台灣鞭蠍English name: Taiwan whipscorpionOrigin: Iheyajima, Okinawajima, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Hatomajima, Kohamajima, Yonaguni, Taiwan Ecology and description The whipscorpion defends itself by spraying an acidic gas containing acetic acid from its tail to repel enemies. This species is more abundant on Ishigaki and Iriomote but is not commonly… Continue reading Taiwan Whipscorpion
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