Bredia okinawensis Japanese name: コバノミヤマノボタンChinese name: 小葉深山野牡丹English name: Okinawa BrediaOrigin: Endemic to the northern part of Okinawajima This species is endemic to the Yambaru region in northern Okinawajima. It can be distinguished from the commonly seen Melastoma candidum, which has larger flowers with five petals. Okinawa Bredia typically has smaller flowers with four petals and… Continue reading Okinawa Bredia
Tag: Okinawajima
Okinawa Pyrocoelia Firefly
Pyrocoelia matsumurai Japanese name: オキナワマドボタルChinese name: 沖繩窗螢English name: Okinawa Pyrocoelia FireflyOrigin: Some islands of the Okinawa Islands and the Yaeyama Islands Pyrocoelia matsumurai, a species belonging to the genus Pyrocoelia, is divided into the following three subspecies: In the Yambaru region, if you turn off your flashlight near damp roadside ditches, you may be able… Continue reading Okinawa Pyrocoelia Firefly
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
Satsuma eucosmia
Satsuma eucosmia eucosmia Japanese name: オキナワヤマタカマイマイ (ヤンバルヤマタカマイマイ)Chinese name: 沖繩高腰蝸牛English name: Satsuma eucosmiaOrigin: Okinawa Islands (Okinawajima, Iejima, Sesokojima, Tsukenjima, etc.). A different subspecies is found on Okinoerabujima in Kagoshima Prefecture. Among the arboreal species of the genus Satsuma distributed in the Okinawa Islands, the following are relatively common on Okinawajima: Satsuma eucosmia shows significant color variation.… Continue reading Satsuma eucosmia
Halcyon Giant Centipede
Scolopendra alcyona Japanese name: リュウジンオオムカデChinese name: 琉神蜈蚣、青龍蜈蚣（TW）English name: Halcyon Giant CentipedeOrigin: Northern Okinawajima, Ishigakijima, Iriomotejima, Kumejima, Tokashikijima, Taiwan This species was described as new in April 2021 ( Reference ), and it is the third known amphibious centipede species in the world. It inhabits stream environments and is known to dive into the water when… Continue reading Halcyon Giant Centipede
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
Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle
Geoemyda japonica Japanese name: リュウキュウヤマガメChinese name: 琉球黑胸葉龜English name: Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtleOrigin: Northern Okinawajima, Kumejima, Tokashikijima The Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle is closely related to the turtle species Geoemyda spengleri, which is distributed in China and Vietnam. It was once considered a subspecies of G. spengleri but was recognized as a distinct species in 1992.… Continue reading Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle
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
Holst’s frog
Babina holsti Japanese name: ホルストガエルChinese name: 赫氏拇棘蛙、赫魯斯特蛙、琉球拇棘蛙English name: Holst’s frogDistribution: Northern Okinawajima, Tokashikijima Holst’s frog can grow up to 12 cm in length, making it the largest native frog species in Okinawa. It breeds in summer and is known for its low, dog-like calls. When a rival male is nearby, it produces a unique territorial… Continue reading Holst’s frog
Brown spotted pitviper
Protobothrops mucrosquamatus Japanese name: タイワンハブChinese name: 龜殼花English name: Brown spotted pitviperOrigin: India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Taiwan, mainland China The population of Brown spotted pitvipers on Okinawajima is an introduced species from Taiwan, currently found mainly in areas such as the Motobu Peninsula and Onna Village. Between the 1970s and 1990s, large numbers of this species were… Continue reading Brown spotted pitviper