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
Tag: Yonaguni
Chinese Peacock Swallowtail
Papilio bianor Japanese name: ヤエヤマカラスアゲハChinese name: 翠鳳蝶、烏鴉鳳蝶（台湾）、碧鳳蝶（香港）English name: Chinese Peacock SwallowtailOrigin: Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, northern Vietnam, India, Myanmar. In Japan, it is found in the Yaeyama Islands. This is a large species of swallowtail butterfly commonly seen in the Yaeyama Islands, but it is also found in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other regions. Its… Continue reading Chinese Peacock Swallowtail
Sakishima Odd-tooth Snake
Lycodon rufozonatus walli Japanese name: サキシママダラChinese name: 先島紅斑蛇、赤鏈蛇沃氏亞種English name: Sakishima Odd-tooth SnakeOrigin: Miyako Islands, Yaeyama Islands The species Lycodon rufozonatus is divided into two subspecies:
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
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.
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
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
Peafowl
Pavo cristatus Japanese Name: インドクジャクChinese Name: 孔雀、印度孔雀English Name: Common peafowl, Peafowl, Indian peafowl, Blue peafowlOrigin: India, Sri Lanka, and other South Asian regions The peafowl was first introduced to Okinawa Prefecture on Aragusuku Island in the Yaeyama Islands, and later in 1979 as an ornamental bird at a resort on Kohama Island. Subsequently, it was… Continue reading Peafowl
Ryukyu Green Pigeon
Treron permagnus Japanese Name: リュウキュウアオバトChinese Name: 琉球綠鳩English Name: Ryukyu Green PigeonOrigin: Ryukyu Islands The Ryukyu Green Pigeon was once considered a different subspecies of the Taiwan Red-headed Green Pigeon (Treron formosae). However, recent molecular studies support its classification as a distinct species. Unlike the Red-headed Green Pigeon, the Ryukyu Green Pigeon does not have a… Continue reading Ryukyu Green Pigeon