Takydromus smaragdinus
Japanese Name: アオカナヘビ
Chinese Name: 翡翠草蜥
English Name: Green Grass Lizard
Origin: Tokara Islands (Takarajima and Kodakarajima), Amami Oshima, Kikai Island, Tokunoshima, Okinawa Islands, Kumejima
This species is distributed across parts of the Central Ryukyu Islands. Males are green or brown, with a brown stripe along the sides and a yellowish belly, while females are yellow-green, lacking the brown stripe, and have a paler white underside. Both males and females may display a white line along their underside, although in certain populations, this trait is seen only in males. The Green Grass Lizard was once a common sight but has become less frequently seen due to a significant population decline in recent years, largely attributed to the extensive use of pesticides in agriculture.
