The Ryukyu Kajika frog (  Buergeria japonica ) is found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. It is the most common frog found on Okinawa.

• Scientific name: Buergeria japonica
• Common name: Ryukyu Kajika frog
• Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
• Habitat: Forests, mountain slopes, drainage ditches and farm fields.
• Diet: Small Insects
• Average size: 25mm-40mm
• Color: Olive green, brown and golden yellow

This small frog is a master of camouflage. I often find it on rocks, plants, trees, drainage ditches and even our trash.

Ryukyu Kajika frog on tatami mat

Ryukyu Kajika frog -macro

Ryukyu Kajika frog – Kume Island

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog- manhole cover

This is the only frog on Okinawa that is capable of living on the shoreline next to the ocean. I have photographed them as close as five feet away from the saltwater.

Ryukyu Kajika frog- skin discoloration

Beach-dwelling Kajika frog

Beach-dwelling Kajika frog

A beautiful Kajika frog in the jungles of Iriomote Island.

Kajika frog -Iriomote Island

Photographed on white for the Meet Your Neighbours Project

Ryukyu Kajika frog – MYN

The males turn a golden yellow during mating season. The season stretches from April to September on Okinawa.

Ryukyu Kajika frog – Amami Island

Ryukyu Kajika frog – mating

Ryukyu Kajika frog – drainage ditch

The eggs are laid in slow-moving and still water sources. The eggs will develop into tadpoles and eventually transform into baby frogs.  I often find tadpoles thriving in farming water buckets.

Juvenile Kajika frog

The summer months provide a great opportunity for natural predators.The frogs come together in large numbers.

Crab feeding on frogs

Pryer’s keelback feeding

Never give up

Never give up -Okinawa, Japan

If you see frogs, there is a possibility that snakes are nearby. The snakes patiently wait for frogs in drainage ditches and still water sources. The Kajika frog is the Hime habu’s favourite meal.

Hime habu – GoPro

Have a great day!