Polypedates leucomystax Japanese Name: シロアゴガエルChinese Name: 白頷樹蛙English Name: White-lipped Tree FrogOrigin: Widely distributed in Southeast Asia, from northeastern India to the Philippines Reference: National Institute for Environmental Studies, Invasive Species Databasehttps://www.nies.go.jp/biodiversity/invasive/DB/detail/40030.html This species has been confirmed on many islands of the Okinawa Islands, as well as Kitadaitojima, the Sakishima Islands (including Miyakojima and Ishigakijima), and… Continue reading White-lipped Tree Frog
Tag: Miyakojima
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
Kishinoue’s Giant Skink
Plestiodon kishinouyei Japanese Name: キシノウエトカゲChinese Name: 岸上石龍子English Name: Kishinoue Giant SkinkOrigin: Miyako Islands, Yaeyama Island The Kishinoue’s Giant Skink is the largest skink in Japan, reaching up to 40 cm in total length. It inhabits open secondary forests. The species name kishinouyei honors the Japanese ichthyologist Kamakichi Kishinouye.
Sakishima Ground Skink
Scincella boettgeri Japanese Name: サキシマスベトカゲChinese Name: 先島滑蜥English Name: Sakishima Ground SkinkOrigin: Miyako Islands and Yaeyama Islands (excluding Yonagunijima) This small lizard inhabits the forest floor and is highly secretive, making it difficult to observe in the wild.
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
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
Miyako Toad
Bufo gargarizans miyakonis Japanese Name: ミヤコヒキガエルChinese Name: 宮古蟾蜍English Name: Miyako ToadOrigin: Miyako islands (Miyakojima, Irabujima, Ikemashima, Shimojishima, Kurimajima) The Miyako Toad is a subspecies of the Asiatic toad (Bufo gargarizans), found in China and Russia. It is the only native toad species in the Ryukyu Islands. The breeding season lasts from September to March. The… Continue reading Miyako Toad
Miyako Keelback
Hebius concelarus Japanese Name: ミヤコヒバァChinese Name: 宮古腹鍊蛇English Name: Miyako KeelbackOrigin: Miyakojima, Irabujima The Miyako Keelback is an endemic species found in Miyakojima and Irabujima. Its population is extremely small, and it has been designated as a “Nationally Rare Wildlife Species” in Japan.
Miyako Freshwater Crab
Geothelphusa miyakoensis Japanese Name: ミヤコサワガニChinese Name: 宮古澤蟹English Name: Miyako Freshwater CrabOrigin: Miyakojima (Miyako island) The Miyako Freshwater Crab is an endemic freshwater crab species of Miyakojima, with a carapace width of approximately 3 cm. Currently, it is known to inhabit only four groundwater spring sites, making its population extremely small. Furthermore, the species is facing… Continue reading Miyako Freshwater Crab
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