Species information Scientific name: Plestiodon marginatusJapanese name: オキナワトカゲChinese name: 沖繩石龍子English name: Okinawa blue-tailed skinkOrigin: Yoronjima and Okinoerabujima in the Amami Islands; the Okinawa Islands; Nakanoshima in the Tokara Islands Ecology and description The Okinawa blue-tailed skink has a head-body length of about 6-9cm. It is found in the Okinawa Islands, in Yoronjima and Okinoerabujima in… Continue reading Okinawa blue-tailed skink
Tag: Tokashiki
Okinawa Short-legged Skink
Species information Scientific name: Ateuchosaurus okinavensisJapanese name: オキナワヒメトカゲChinese name: 沖繩光蜥English name: Okinawa short-legged skinkOrigin: Okinawa Islands Ecology and description The Ateuchosaurus genus is characterized by its very short limbs, currently consisting of 3 species: The Okinawa short-legged skink measures about 10-13 cm in total length and often moves under leaf litter, making it difficult to… Continue reading Okinawa Short-legged Skink
Kawamura’s Rice Field Frog
Species information Scientific name: Fejervarya kawamuraiJapanese 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 Ecology and description Kawamura’s rice field frog is a Fejervarya… Continue reading Kawamura’s Rice Field Frog
Barbour’s Skink
Species information Scientific name: Plestiodon barbouriJapanese name: バーバートカゲChinese name: 巴氏石龍子English name: Barbour's SkinkOrigin: Okinawa Islands, Amami Islands Ecology and description This is a medium-sized skink distributed in the Okinawa Islands and Amami Islands. The specific epithet commemorates the American herpetologist Thomas Barbour. Juveniles have a dark brown body with 5 golden lines and a blue… Continue reading Barbour’s Skink
Okinawa Giant Stag Beetle
Species information Scientific name: Serrognathus titanus okinawanusJapanese name: オキナワヒラタクワガタChinese name: 沖繩扁鍬形蟲、沖繩扁鍬English name: Okinawa giant stag beetleOrigin: Okinawajima, Iheyajima, Iejima, Kourijima, Minnajima, Sesokojima, Hamahigajima, Tsukenjima, Tokashikijima, Zamamijima, Akajima, Gerumajima, Kumejima Ecology and description The Giant Stag Beetle Serrognathus titanus is widely distributed across Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, and Southeast Asia, with 12 subspecies recorded in Japan.… Continue reading Okinawa Giant Stag Beetle
Pyrocoelia matsumurai
Species information Scientific name: Pyrocoelia matsumuraiJapanese name: オキナワマドボタルChinese name: 沖繩窗螢English name: Pyrocoelia matsumuraiOrigin: Okinawajima, Sesokojima, Yagajijima, Tokashikijima, Kumejima, Ishigaki, Iriomote, Kohamajima Ecology and description Pyrocoelia matsumurai is a species of the genus Pyrocoelia and has three subspecies: The larvae of P. matsumurai are terrestrial and carnivorous, feeding on land snails and other terrestrial mollusks. In… Continue reading Pyrocoelia matsumurai
Halcyon Giant Centipede
Species information Scientific name: Scolopendra alcyonaJapanese 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 Ecology and description 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… Continue reading Halcyon Giant Centipede
Okinawa Black-breasted Leaf Turtle
Species information Scientific name: Geoemyda japonicaJapanese name: リュウキュウヤマガメChinese name: 琉球地龜、琉球黑胸葉龜English name: Okinawa black-breasted leaf turtleOrigin: Northern Okinawajima, Kumejima, Tokashikijima Ecology and description Okinawa black-breasted leaf turtle’s close relative is the turtle (Geoemyda spengleri) found in China and Vietnam, which was originally considered a subspecies until it was recognized as a separate species in 1992. The… Continue reading Okinawa Black-breasted Leaf Turtle
Holst’s frog
Species information Scientific name: Babina holsti Japanese name: ホルストガエルChinese name: 赫氏拇棘蛙、琉球拇棘蛙English name: Holst’s frogDistribution: Northern Okinawajima, Tokashikijima Ecology and description Holst’s frog is designated as a Natural Monument of Okinawa Prefecture. With adults reaching up to 12 cm in length, it is the largest native frog species on Okinawa Island. The breeding season occurs in summer,… Continue reading Holst’s frog
Brown Land Crab
Species information Scientific name: Cardisoma carnifexJapanese name: ミナミオカガニChinese name: 凶狠圓軸蟹English name: Brown land crabOrigin: Coastal areas of Southeast Asia adjacent to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In Japan, found on islands south of Yoronjima. Ecology and description Brown land crab, one of the land crabs visible in the Ryukyu Islands, has seen a rapid decline… Continue reading Brown Land Crab