Anderson’s Crocodile Newt- Endangered species

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Admin11

Anderson’s crocodile newt is an endangered species found throughout the Ryukyu islands. It is designated as a living natural monument in Okinawa and is currently listed as endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species. This amphibian is decreasing in numbers due to poaching and deforestation. The newt is highly valued in the illegal pet trade market. This is my favorite amphibian to photograph on my night adventures in Okinawa.

- - Scientific name: Echinotriton andersoni
- - Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
- - Habitat: Forests and wetlands
- - Diet: Worms and snails
- Average Size: 120mm -160mm

The Anderson’s crocodile newt was featured in National geographic in November 2020

Shawn Miller featured 11-2021

Photographed under the ambient light on Amami Island.

Anderson’s crocodile newt

The first Anderson’s newt I have seen with one webbed hind foot.

Webbed hind feet

I was lucky to capture the Anderson’s crocodile newt cleaning its eyes. This was the first time documenting this behavior.

Anderson’s crocodile newt

Newt with closed eye

Sometime they pick up hitchhikers, check out this blood sucking leech!

Blood sucking leech

It’s rare to find animals eating in nature. I found this Anderson’s crocodile newt feeding on an earthworm in Northern Okinawa.

Feeding, Yanbaru forest

Late in the evening the newts meet up and search for a mate.

Finding a mate, Onna Village

The aquatic stage of the newt has external gills. It slowly prepares itself for the transition into the terrestrial juvenile stage. They can be found in mud puddles in the months of May and June.

Aquatic stage -external gills

Watch your speed and pay close attention to crossing wildlife. Roadkill is a huge problem on Okinawa.

Dinosaurs of Okinawa

Watch out for crossing newts

All the roads in northern Okinawa have specialized wildlife steps for the animals that get trapped in the drainage ditch. These steps allow the newts and other animals to crawl out safely.

Wildlife steps

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

Kuroiwa’s Ground Gecko, Endangered species of the Ryukyu Islands!

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Admin11

Kuroiwa’s Ground Gecko is a beautiful lizard found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. It is currently listed endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species. This lizard is decreasing in numbers due to poaching, deforestation, and the threat of feral cats. The lizard is high valued in the illegal pet trade market and needs to protected. This is one of my favorite reptiles to photograph on my night adventures in Okinawa.

- Scientific name: Goniurosaurus kuroiwae

- Distribution: Okinawa Islands

- Habitat: Leaf littered forests

- Diet: Worms and insects

Average Size: 110mm -130mm

Shawn Miller Featured- Wildlife As Canon Sees. National Geographic October 2017

Kuroiwa’s Ground Gecko © Shawn Miller

This is the first ground gecko I photographed in 2010. I found it under a piece of carpet in Onna Village. Illegal dumping is a huge problem in Okinawa.

1st Ground Gecko © Shawn Miller

In the daytime, they live in caves, crevices, and holes in the ground

Kuroiwa’s Ground Gecko © Shawn Miller

They come out to feed at night.

Kuroiwa’s Ground Gecko © Shawn Miller

When they feel threatened they will stand up on all fours and try to intimate you with a stare down.

Kuroiwa’s Ground Gecko © Shawn Miller

They have some strange looking feet –

Ryukyu Ground gecko © Shawn Miller

When I approached this ground gecko it stayed in place. I found three Mosquitoes sucking the blood right out of it. the first time I observed mosquitoes on a lizard.

Ryukyu Blood suckers © Shawn Miller

The juveniles have vibrant orange stripes down the back and rings around their tails.

Juvenile ground gecko

This beautiful Goniurosaurus kuroiwae orientalis was photographed on Ie Island.

Goniurosaurus kuroiwae orientalis

A wide-angle macro perspective of a ground gecko in central Okinawa.

Ground gecko -Wide angle macro © Shawn Miller

The Banded ground gecko (Goniurosaurus splendens) is endemic to the Island of Tokunoshima. It is designated as a living natural monument in Kagoshima prefecture.

Banded Ground Gecko © Shawn Miller

Toyama’s ground gecko (Goniurosaurus toyami) is endemic to Iheya Island. It is currently listed as critically endangered.

Toyama’s ground gecko © Shawn Miller

Pay attention to crossing wildlife!

Kuroiwa’s ground gecko -endangered species © Shawn Miller

Kuroiwa’s ground gecko top view © Shawn Miller

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, Yanbaru forest

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Admin11

The Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda japonica) is an endangered species found in Northern Okinawa. This turtle is decreasing in numbers due to poaching, deforestation and roadkill. The turtle is highly valued in the pet trade market and needs to be protected. It has been designated as a National Natural Monument of Japan and is currently on the IUCN red species list as endangered.

Scientific name: Geoemyda japonica (Fan, 1931)
Distribution: Okinawajima
Habitat: Leaf littered wetland forests
Diet: Worms, snails, insects, crustaceans, and fruit
Average Size: 140mm- 160mm

The Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle in its natural habitat.

Black-breasted leaf turtle – up close

Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda japonica)

Black-breasted leaf turtle – up close

The endangered turtle was featured on the cover of science workbooks. These workbooks are used for the junior high public school system in Okinawa, Japan.

Science workbooks

This leaf turtle was not painted red or yellow. I photographed it using specialized blue lights and filters. The shell fluoresced bright yellow and the algae grow fluoresced bright red.

Leaf turtle fluorescence

Ryukyu Leaf turtle fluorescence

Take a close look, yes those are tortoise ticks. Photographed August 9th, 2014. I have been finding more turtles infested with ticks.

Yanbaru forest Ticks on the Black-breasted leaf turtle

Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle infested with ticks

Tortoise ticks of Yanbaru

I usually find the Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle crossing the road at night or early in the morning.

Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda japonica)

Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle (Geoemyda japonica)

All the roads in northern Okinawa have specialized wildlife steps for the animals that get trapped in the drainage ditch. These steps allow the turtles and other animals to crawl out safely using the steps.

Wildlife steps

Watch your speed and pay close attention to crossing wildlife.

Wildlife crossing warning signs

watch out for crossing turtles -Kunigami village

The truth is I have seen more of these turtles dead than alive. Watch your speed!

Black-breasted leaf turtle – up close

Roadkill

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

Okinawa Nature Photography

沖縄自然写真 By Shawn Miller

Monthly Archives: November 2014

Anderson’s Crocodile Newt- Endangered species

Kuroiwa’s Ground Gecko, Endangered species of the Ryukyu Islands!

Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, Yanbaru forest