Hebius pryeri Japanese name: ガラスヒバァChinese name: 沖繩腹鍊蛇English name: Pryer’s Keelback SnakeOrigin: Okinawa Islands, Amami Islands Pryer’s Keelback Snake primarily feeds on frogs. It is often found near streams, irrigation channels, and rice paddies, and is commonly seen on roads during or after rain, where it scavenges road-killed frogs. Unfortunately, this behavior makes it vulnerable to… Continue reading Pryer’s Keelback Snake
Tag: Okinawajima
Ryukyu Green Snake
Cyclophiops semicarinatus Japanese name: リュウキュウアオヘビChinese name: 琉球青蛇English name: Ryukyu Green SnakeOrigin: Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, Takarajima and Kodakarajima (Tokara Islands) The Ryukyu Green Snake grows to about 70–80 cm in length. Compared to the bright green coloration of the green snake found in Mainland China and Taiwan (Cyclophiops major), this species usually appears deep green… Continue reading Ryukyu Green Snake
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
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
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
Okinawa Spiny Newt
Echinotriton andersoni Japanese Name: オキナワイボイモリOkinawaChinese Name: 沖繩棘螈English Name: Okinawa Spiny NewtOrigin: Okinawajima, Tokashikijima This species is designated as a natural monument in Okinawa Prefecture and is one of the most primitive species in the family Salamandridae. For this reason, it is often referred to as a “living fossil.” The name comes from the protruding ribs… Continue reading Okinawa Spiny Newt
Okinawa Rail
Hypotaenidia okinawae Japanese Name: ヤンバルクイナChinese Names: 沖繩秧雞, 山原秧雞, 山原水雞English Name: Okinawa RailOrigin: Northern Okinawa Island The Okinawa Rail is approximately 35cm long and weighs around 450g. Its head to tail is dark olive green, with a black face and a white line running from behind the eyes to the neck. Its legs and beak are… Continue reading Okinawa Rail