Ateuchosaurus okinavensis Japanese name: オキナワヒメトカゲChinese name: 沖繩光蜥English name: Okinawa Short-Legged SkinkOrigin: Okinawa Islands The genus Ateuchosaurus is characterized by very short limbs and currently includes three species: The Okinawa Short-Legged Skink reaches a total length of about 10–13 cm and is often active under forest leaf litter, making it difficult to observe. On Okinawajima, it… Continue reading Okinawa Short-Legged Skink
Tag: Iheyajima
Kawamura’s Rice Field Frog
Fejervarya kawamurai Japanese name: ヌマガエルChinese name: 川村氏澤蛙、川村陸蛙English name: Kawamura’s Rice Field FrogOrigin: Western Honshu (central region and westward), Shikoku, Kyushu, and some nearby islands in Japan; several islands of the Amami Islands (except Yoronjima) and Okinawa Islands (some islands); parts of China Kawamura’s Rice Field Frog is a Fejervarya species widely distributed in western Japan,… Continue reading Kawamura’s Rice Field Frog
Barbour’s Eyelid Skink
Plestiodon barbouri Japanese name: バーバートカゲChinese name: 巴氏石龍子English name: Barbour’s Eyelid SkinkOrigin: Okinawa Islands, Amami Islands The Barbour’s Eyelid Skink is a medium-sized lizard found in the Okinawa and Amami Islands. Its specific name honors American herpetologist Thomas Barbour. Juveniles are dark brown with five golden longitudinal stripes along the sides of the body, and their… Continue reading Barbour’s Eyelid Skink
Okinawa Giant Stag Beetle
Serrognathus titanus okinawanus Japanese name: オキナワヒラタクワガタChinese name: 沖繩扁鍬形蟲English name: Okinawa Giant Stag BeetleOrigin: Okinawajima, Iheyajima, Iejima, Kourijima, Minnajima, Sesokojima, Hamahigajima, Tsukenjima, Tokashikijima, Zamamijima, Akajima, Gerumajima, Kumejima The giant stag beetle Dorcus titanus is widely distributed across Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, and Southeast Asia, with 12 subspecies recorded in Japan. The Okinawa giant stag beetle is… Continue reading Okinawa Giant Stag Beetle
Okinawa needlewood tree
Schima wallichii ssp. Japanese name: イジュChinese name: 西南木荷、紅木荷English name: Okinawa needlewood treeOrigin: This species is widely distributed in Southeast Asia. In Japan, it is found in the Ryukyu Islands and the Ogasawara Islands. Schima wallichii is distributed mainly in the Ogasawara and Ryukyu Islands in Japan. The populations in these two regions differ slightly in appearance,… Continue reading Okinawa needlewood tree
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
Okinawa Tree Frog
Zhangixalus viridis Japanese name: オキナワアオガエルChinese name: 沖繩樹蛙English name: Okinawa Tree FrogOrigin: Okinawajima, Iheyajima, Kumejima From November to May, the breeding calls of the Okinawa Tree Frog can often be heard in the Yambaru areas. Males have yellow bellies, while females have white bellies and are significantly larger in size, making it relatively easy to distinguish… Continue reading Okinawa Tree Frog
Brown Land Crab
Cardisoma carnifex Japanese Name: ミナミオカガニChinese Name: 凶狠圓軸蟹English Name: Brown Land CrabOrigin: Coastal regions of Southeast Asia bordering the Pacific and Indian Oceans; in Japan, found on islands south of Yoronjima in the Ryukyu Islands. The Brown Land Crab is one of the terrestrial crabs found in the Ryukyu Islands. In recent years, its population has… Continue reading Brown Land Crab
Taiwan Whipscorpion
Typopeltis crucifer Japanese Name: タイワンサソリモドキChinese Name: 台灣鞭蠍English Name: Taiwan WhipscorpionOrigin: Iheyajima, Okinawajima, Ishigakijima, Iriomotejima, Hatomajima, Kohamajima, Yonagunijima, Taiwan When threatened, the Whipscorpion releases an acidic gas containing acetic acid from the tip of its tail to drive away predators. This species is relatively common on Ishigakijima and Iriomotejima but rarely seen on Okinawajima. Males and… Continue reading Taiwan Whipscorpion
Goodyera hachijoensis
Goodyera hachijoensis var. matsumurana Japanese Name: カゴメランChinese Name: 銀線蓮、假金線蓮English Name: Goodyera hachijoensisOrigin: Izu Islands, Yakushima, Tokara Islands, Okinawa Islands, Amami Oshima, Yaeyama Islands, Taiwan Goodyera hachijoensis has also been recorded from Okinawajima, but the number of individuals is very low, making it an extremely rare plant. Due to frequent illegal collection, strong conservation efforts are… Continue reading Goodyera hachijoensis