Amami Jay

Garrulus lidthi Japanese Name: ルリカケスChinese Name: 琉球松鴉English Name: Amami JayOrigin: Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, Ukejima The Amami Jay, with its striking blue and reddish-brown plumage, is a member of the crow family and a nationally designated natural monument of Japan. It is also the prefectural bird of Kagoshima. In the past, overhunting led to a decline… Continue reading Amami Jay

Habu

Protobothrops flavoviridis Japanese Name: ハブChinese Name: 波布、黄綠龜殼花English Name: HabuOrigin: Some islands of the Okinawa Islands and Amami Islands The Habu is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most beautiful and fascinating snakes, yet it is also one of the most venomous and dangerous. It is found on certain islands of the Okinawa and Amami Islands, with its… Continue reading Habu

Okinawa Narrow-mouthed Frog

Microhyla okinavensis Japanese Name: ヒメアマガエルChinese Name: 沖繩小雨蛙、沖繩飾紋姬蛙English Name: Okinawa Narrow-mouthed FrogOrigin: Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, Miyako Islands The Okinawa Narrow-mouthed Frog, originally classified under the South Asian species M. ornata, was later found through phylogenetic studies in 2005 to be separate from Taiwan’s population, which was classified as M. fissipes. The Ryukyu Islands population was… Continue reading Okinawa Narrow-mouthed Frog

Ryukyu Stream Treefrog

Buergeria japonica Japanese Name: リュウキュウカジカガエルChinese Name: 日本溪樹蛙、日本樹蛙English Name: Ryukyu Stream TreefrogOrigin: Tokara Islands, Okinawa Islands, Amami Islands The Ryukyu Stream Treefrog is not found in Honshu, Japan, but is distributed across the Ryukyu Islands, south of Kuchi-no-shima in the Tokara Islands (excluding the Miyako Islands, North Daito Island, and South Daito Island). A 2020 study… Continue reading Ryukyu Stream Treefrog

Okinawa Pitviper

姬波布

Ovophis okinavensis Japanese Name: ヒメハブChinese Name: 姬波布, 沖繩烙鐵頭English Name: Okinawa Pitviper, HimehabuOrigin: Okinawa Islands (Okinawajima, Iheyajima, Iejima, Kumejima, Tokashikijima), Amami Islands (Amami Oshima, Kakeromajima, Ukejima, Yorojima, Tokunoshima) The Okinawa pitviper is a venomous snake that grows up to 80 cm in length. Its Japanese name, “Himehabu,” includes the word “hime,” meaning “small,” as it is… Continue reading Okinawa Pitviper

Ryukyu Odd-tooth Snake

琉球紅斑蛇

Lycondon semicarinatum Japanese Name: アカマタChinese Name: 琉球紅斑蛇English Name: Ryukyu Odd-tooth SnakeOrigin: Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands The Ryukyu Odd-tooth Snake is a non-venomous species that can grow up to 170 cm in length. However, juveniles are particularly aggressive. It is one of the most commonly encountered snakes in Yambaru and is sometimes seen on roads feeding… Continue reading Ryukyu Odd-tooth Snake

Rusty-leaf Mucuna

Mucuna macrocarpa Japanese Name: イルカンダChinese Name: 血藤English Name: Rusty-leaf MucunaOrigin: Southern China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Amami Islands to Okinawa Islands, India The Japanese name Irukanda comes from the Okinawan dialect, where Iru means “color” and Kanda refers to “vine.” This species is common in the forests of Yambaru. From March to May, its flowers bloom in… Continue reading Rusty-leaf Mucuna

Black Wood Pigeon

Columba janthina Japanese Name: カラスバトChinese Name: 黑林鴿English Name: Black Wood PigeonOrigin: China (Shandong Province), South Korea, Japan This species has three subspecies: Observing the Black Wood Pigeon (C. j. janthina) in Yambaru is extremely difficult. Their population has been declining in recent years, and even their calls are rarely heard. I am lucky if I… Continue reading Black Wood Pigeon

Sword-tail Newt

劍尾蠑螈

Cynops ensicauda Japanese Name: シリケンイモリChinese Name: 劍尾蠑螈English Name: Sword-tail newtOrigin: Okinawa Islands, Amami Islands The specific name ensicauda comes from Latin, meaning “sword” (ensis) and “tail” (cauda). This species has subspecies distributed across the Okinawa and Amami Islands, but interestingly, it is absent from Tokunoshima, located between the Okinawa Islands and Amami Oshima. Sword-tail newts… Continue reading Sword-tail Newt

Ryukyu Tree Lizard

Diploderma polygonatum Japanese Name: キノボリトカゲChinese Name: 琉球龍蜥English Name: Ryukyu Tree LizardOrigin: 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… Continue reading Ryukyu Tree Lizard