Ryukyu Tree Lizard

Japanese Name: キノボリトカゲ
Chinese Name: 琉球龍蜥
English Name: Ryukyu Tree Lizard
Origin: Nominate subspecies distributed across the Amami Islands and Okinawa Islands; Sakishima subspecies found in the Miyako and Yaeyama Islands; Yonaguni subspecies found on Yonaguni Island.

Previously classified under the genus Japalura, which is commonly associated with true tree lizards from South Asia, this genus was reclassified to Diploderma in 2018.

Reference：攀木蜥蜴學名的重大修訂

The Ryukyu Tree Lizard consists of multiple subspecies, including Taiwan’s Diploderma polygonatum xanthostoma (Yellow-mouthed Tree Lizard).

• Ryukyu Tree Lizard (Diploderma polygonatum)
  • Okinawa Tree Lizard (Diploderma polygonatum polygonatum)
  • Sakishima Tree Lizard (Diploderma polygonatum ishigakiense)
  • Yonaguni Tree Lizard (Diploderma polygonatum donan)
  • Yellow-mouthed Tree Lizard (Diploderma polygonata xanthostoma)

Okinawa Tree Lizard（Diploderma polygonatum polygonatum）:

Okinawa Tree Lizard (Diploderma polygonatum polygonatum)
Distribution: Okinawa and Amami Islands.
Male length: ~25 cm; Female length: ~20 cm.
Males often exhibit vibrant green coloration and are relatively easy to spot in Okinawa. Not designated as a rare species by the Okinawa government, some have been transported to mainland Japan as pets and subsequently abandoned or escaped. Populations were identified in Hamamatsu, Aichi Prefecture, in 2023.

Reference：

• 「浜松なのに沖縄のキノボリトカゲが捕れる」神社　詰めかける爬虫類マニアに氏子総代らが思うこと

Sakishima Tree Lizard（Diploderma olygonatum ishigakiense）：

Distribution: Miyako and Yaeyama Islands, specifically on Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Kohama Islands.
Male length: ~20 cm; Female length: ~17 cm.
This subspecies is generally smaller than the nominate, primarily brown in coloration. Although commonly observed on Ishigaki Island, its numbers have declined on Miyako Island due to predation by invasive Japanese weasels (Mustela itatsi).

Yonaguni Tree Lizard（Diploderma polygonatum donan）：

Distribution: Limited to Yonaguni Island.
Distinguishing Features: Males have white spots, while females display green scales. The inside of the mouth is pink.