1.Noguchi-gera
2.Yanbaru-kuina
3.Honto-akahige
4.Karasu-bato
5.Amami-yamashigi
6.Konoha-zuku
7.Ryukyu yama-game
8.Kuroiwa tokage-modoki
9.Iju
10.Aobana hainoki
11.Ryukyu inoshishi |
The Flora and Fauna of Northern Okinawa
Let's meet the plants and animals of the
northern Okinawa forests. Beginning with
rare species, here are the flora and fauna
of Yanbaru (northern Okinawa)
Sound of Forests(MP3 data/1,025kb)
photographs by Masakazu Kudaka, Photographer
"My base is Hentona in Kunigami Village
in the heart of Okinawa's north country.
A great variety of animals and plants live
harmoniously in the balanced environment
of the northern forest. May that precious
environment never be destroyed."
Birds
- Noguchi-gera (Pryer's woodpecker), Sapheopipo noguchi@(Special National Protected Species)
A
member of the woodpecker family. It is an
extremely rare bird, the only member of its
genus in the world.
- Yanbaru-kuina (Okinawa rail), Rallus okinawae ( National Protected Species)
A member of
the water rail family, it is very rare worldwide.
It is a flightless nocturnal bird.
- Honto-akahige (Ryukyu robin), Erithacus komodori namiyei (National Protected Species)
A sedentary
bird of the sparrow order and flycatcher
family.
- Karasu-bato (Japanese wood pigeon), Columba janthina janthina (National Protected Species)
This bird has
an all-black body with a purplish head. The
breast is speckled with green and flashes
of silver. It is an extremely wary bird,
very difficult to approach.
- Amami-yamashigi (Amami woodcock), Scolopax mira (Prefectural Protected Species)
A large
bird of the snipe family.
- Konoha-zuku (Scops Owl), Otus scops japonicus
A bird of the owl family believed to be
the smallest of the Japanese owls. The photograph
is of an adult and young.
Reptiles
- Ryukyu yama-game, Geoemyda spengleri japonica (National Protected Species)
A turtle of
the marsh turtle family. Its distinctive
feature is a rough serrated green shell.
It is very pretty and has always been popular
with people.
- Kuroiwa tokage-modoki, Eublepharis kuroiwae (Prefectural Protected Species)
A genus
of the lizard (gecko) family, it lives in
the forests of mountains and lowlands. When
it senses danger, it sheds its long tail.
Plants
- Iju (camellia family), Shima wallichi Korthals
ssp. Liukiuensis Bloemb
An evergreen tree
which can be seen growing over a wide area
near seacoasts from second stage to chinquapin
forests It blooms with a pale yellow flower
during the rainy season in May and June and
the blooms add a touch of brightness to the
rainy forest.
- Aobana hainoki (hai family), Symplocos likiuensis
Matsum
A fairly tall evergreen which grows
in the mountains. It blooms with a beautiful
pale purple flower in March and April.
Mammals
- Ryukyu inoshishi (Ryuyku wild boar) Sus scrofariukiuanus Kuroda
A smaller subspecies of the Japanese wild
boar found only on the islands of the Southwest
Archipelago. It is rare to catch adults and
young together.
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1.Ishikawa-gaeru
2.Holst's gaeru
3.Namie gaeru
4.Ibo-imori
5.Kenaga-nezumi
6.Okinawa toge-nezumi
7.Yanbaru tenaga-kogane
8.Konoha-chou
9.Futao-chou
10.Okinawa Sekkoku
11.Koke-tanpopo
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photographs by Kazuo Minato Insect/Animal Photographer
"Sixteen protected species and approximately
fifty world-known endangered species from
the Red Data Book inhabit the lush semitropical
forest of Yanbaru. I hope to respect and
protect these endangered species for the
upcoming generation."
Amphibians
- Ishikawa-gaeru (Ishikawa frog), Rana ishikawae (Prefectural Protected Species)
A large
frog of the ranid family. Found only in the
valleys of Okinawa and Amami Islands. A beautiful
green colored frog with brown spots.
A Song of Ishikawa-gaeruiMP3 data/381kbj
- Holst's gaeru (Dagger frog), Babina holsti (Prefectural Protected Species)
A large frog of the ranid family. Found only
in the mountains of Okinawa Island north
of Nago City and on Tokashiki Island. Unlike
other frogs, it has five toes on the front
feet.
- Namie gaeru, Rana namiyei (Prefectural Protected Species)
A large
frog of the ranid family. Found only in the
valley of Okinawa Island north of Nago City.
The pupils are diamond-shaped and the body
dark brown in color. The face has a horny
appearance. The short hind legs make it difficult
to jump.
- Ibo-imori (Anderson's alligator newt), Tylotriton andersoni (Prefectural Protected Species)
This amphibian
of the newt family is about 16 cm. long with
protruding ribs on the back. The Japanese
name, ibo, comes from these ribs which resemble warts.
Hasn't evolved for thousands of years and
is sometimes called a "living fossil."
Mammals
- Kenaga-nezumi (Ryukyu long-tailed giant rat),
Diplothrix legatus (National Protected Species)
The largest wild mouse found in Japan. It
is distinguished from other mice species
by the long hair on its back and its extra
long tail, which is deep black toward the
root becoming white toward the tip. This
is a rare mouse found in the whole world
only on Amami, Tokuno-shima and Okinawa Islands.
- Okinawa toge-nezumi, Tokudaia osimensis muenninki (National Protected Species)
A mouse of the rodent order, mouse family
with spiky or spiny fur. Unlike other mice,
it moves in springy leaps when surprised.
It is a nocturnal animal dwelling in chinquapin
forests. It sticks close to its local territory
and is rarely seen.
Insects
- Yanbaru tenaga-kogane (Yanbaru long-armed
scarab beetle), Cheirotonus jambar(National Protected Species)
The largest specie recognized in northern
Okinawa in 1983. The distinctive long forelegs
of the males act as a weapon in battles.
- Konaha-chou (Leaf Butterfly), Kallima inachus eucerca (Prefectural Protected Species)
Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae. It is famous for
its wing camouflage, which looks like dead
leaves. It is attracted to tree saps and
threads its way among the trees. Okinawa
is the northern limit of its distribution.
- Futao-chou, Polyura eudamippus weismanni (Prefectural Protected Species)
Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae. The Japanese name,
futa-o (two tails), comes from the two projections
under the back wings. Seen only in the forest
of northern Okinawa.
Plants
- Okinawa Sekkoku, Dendrobium okinawense (Critically Endangered, Red Data Book of
Japan)
Orchidaceae. A rare orchid in the forest
of Yanbaru which grows on trunks and thick
branches. A drooping stalk and an exceptionally
large flower are distinctive features of
this orchid.
- Koke-tanpopo, Solenogyne mikadoi (Vulnerable, Red Data Book of Japan)
A plant of the chrysanthemum family. Its
distribution is limited to northern Okinawa
and several rivers on Iriomote Island. Seen
on midstream rocks.
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