Akamata – The Ryukyu odd-tooth snake

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Admin11

The Ryukyu odd-tooth snake (Lycodon semicarinatus) is a non-venomous snake found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. They are fairly common here on Okinawa and are usually found at night. The Akamata is a natural enemy of the venomous Habu snake. They are one of the few snakes capable of feeding on venomous pit vipers. More effort should be focused on conserving this native snake for this specific reason. This beautiful snake has been overlooked and needs to be protected. Sadly I see more dead on the road than alive.

- Scientific name: Lycodon semicarinatus
- Local name: Akamata – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake

- Distribution: Ryukyu Islands

- Habitat: Forests, drainage ditches, and housing areas

- Diet: Snakes, lizards, frogs, snakes, birds, baby sea turtles, and rodents.

- Average size: 100cm -180cm

Color: Black, orange with a yellow belly.

They are often found crossing the road at night.

Akamata – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake © Shawn Miller

When threatened they pull back, stand high and prepare to strike! They will bite when threatened.

Akamata – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake © Shawn Miller

This beautiful juvenile was photographed on a white for the Meet Your Neighbours Project. (Connecting People Worldwide with the Wildlife in their Community)

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake -MYN © Shawn Miller

An albino specimen photographed in captivity at the local zoo.

Albino Akamata snake

The slow and low perspective found crossing the road at night.

Crossing the road – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake © Shawn Miller

The small snakes often feed on small lizards. This beauty ate a common gecko tail first.

Akamata feeding on a gecko – tail first © Shawn Miller

A large Akamata feeding on an Okinawa tree frog.

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake feeding © Shawn Miller

A juvenile Akamata feeding on an Okinawa tree lizard.

Ryukyu odd-tooth feeding © Shawn Miller

The Akamata is one of the few snakes that feed on sea turtle hatchlings in northern Okinawa.

Akamata – feeding on sea turtles © Shawn Miller

This was my first time seeing a juvenile akamata pull back and puff out its head to resemble the diamond shape of a venomous pit viper.

Is the coincidence or mimicry? I know this is a common occurrence with other non-venomous snakes around the world. I believe this juvenile snake saw me as a threat.

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake puffing its head © Shawn Miller

Mimicry moment © Shawn Miller

People often ask me what is the purpose of conservation photography? Having the ability to affect some form of positive change in the environment and make a global difference with the photographs. Hopefully, the images will inspire people to care more about nature and make a positive difference in the environment.

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.

Hummingbirds on Okinawa By Shawn Miller

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Admin11

I’m sorry to disappoint you but we do not have any hummingbirds on Okinawa. We do have hawk moths that resemble hummingbirds. The hawk moths are also called hummingbird moths. They are extremely fast and challenging to photograph.

I used a slow shutter speed to convey motion in the wings of the Hummingbird hawk moth (Macroglossum corythus)

Hummingbird hawk-moth

I often find the insects feeding early morning and or late in the evening. They feed using a long proboscis to drink the nectar.

Hummingbird hawk-moth

They are hard to see since they are small (35 -45mm) and move extremely fast. They can be heard creating a humming sound as they fly by. They hover for a short period of time collecting the nectar and move on to the next flower.

Hummingbird hawk-moth

The Convolvulus hawk moth ( Agrius convolvuli ) is the largest hawk moth I have seen on Okinawa.

Convolvulus hawk moth

The Impatiens Hawk moth feeds in the evening. I found this moth resting on a plant.

Impatiens Hawk Moth (Theretra oldenlandiae)

Photographed on white for the Meet Your Neighbours project

Hawkmoth – MYN

Impatiens Hawk Moth (Theretra oldenlandiae) larvae photographed on white using the MYN studio technique.

Impatiens Hawk Moth (Theretra oldenlandiae) larvae

Green Pergesa Hawk moth larvae ( Pergesa acteaus)

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.

Asian grass frog – Amphibians of the Ryukyu Islands

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Admin11

The Asian grass frog ( Fejervarya kawamurai) is found on Mainland Japan and most of the Ryukyu Islands. The warty frog is fairly common on Okinawa. It’s biggest threats are pesticide exposure and habitat loss.

Scientific name: Fejervarya kawamurai
Common name: Asian grass frog, marsh frog and common pond frog
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands and Mainland Japan
Habitat: Rice fields, ditches, marshes, parks and farm fields.
Diet: Insects
Average size: 45mm-75mm
Color: light brown with a white belly

Asian grass frog – Canon 70d * 60mm macro

Wide angle macro – Canon 70d *Tokina fisheye

Asian grass frog- Macro

Asian marsh frog – drainage ditch

Asian marsh frog

Asian grass frog feeding

Asian marsh frog – Okuma resort

Asian grass frog -MYN

Egret feeding -the last goodbye

Have a great day!

Okinawa green tree frog – Ryukyu Islands

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Admin11

The Okinawa green tree frog ( Rhacophorus viridis viridis ) is found on Okinawa, Iheya and Kume Island.

Scientific name: Rhacophorus viridis viridis
Common name: Okinawa Green tree frog
Distribution: Okinawa, Kume, and Iheya.
Habitat: Forests, mountain slopes and farm fields near water.
Diet: Insects
Average size: 45mm-75mm
Color: Olive green, Bright green and dark brown

Okinawa Green tree frog © Shawn Miller

This beautiful frog is a master of camouflage. I often find it resting on tree branches, blending in with the surrounding green leaves.

Natural habitat © Shawn Miller

Green tree frog © Shawn Miller

Amami green tree frog ( Rhacophorus viridis amamiensis) © Shawn Miller

The breeding season stretches from February to April on Okinawa.

Green tree frog mating © Shawn Miller

On Kume Island the tree frogs transform to a golden brown when mating.

Kume Island tree frog © Shawn Miller

They construct a foam nest on a tree branch above a still water source. Eventually, the foam liquefies when the eggs are ready to hatch.

Frog foam nest © Shawn Miller

Not all frogs survive to make the nest. The Akamata is the most common snake on the Okinawan Islands. It feeds on venomous habu snakes, baby sea turtles, lizards, and frogs.

Akamata snake feeding © Shawn Miller

Photographed on white for the Meet your Neighbours global biodiversity project.

MYN Technique © Shawn Miller

Green tree frog © Shawn Miller

I often find this frog searching for insects on the road.

Roadside green tree frog © Shawn Miller

” Know your nature with Shawn Miller ” Let’s protect the wildlife of Okinawa.

Nudibranchs – Colorful sea slugs of Okinawa

Posted on January 7, 2017 by Admin11

Nudibranchs are shell-less gastropods. They are some of the most bizarre-looking underwater animals found in our oceans. They can be challenging to find due to their small size and confusing patterns. Nudibranchs are slow-moving, delicate and lack a protective shell. Some are extremely distasteful and bright colors warn predators that they are toxic. Some even have the ability to ingest stinging cells and use them as a form of protection.

The best way to find sea slugs: Move slow! Search around sponges, hydroids, sea squirts, anemones, soft coral, rocks and reef ledges.

Train the eye: They can be challenging to find, I recommend tagging along with experienced divers that already have an eye for finding them.

Below are some of my favorite images of sea slugs. Photography by Shawn M Miller.

Chromodoris willani © Shawn Miller

Phestilla melanobranchis© Shawn Miller

Phyllidia varicosa© Shawn Miller

Roboasta gracillis© Shawn Miller

Chromodoris aureopurpurea© Shawn Miller

Aldisa albatrossae© Shawn Miller

Tritonospsilla alba© Shawn Miller

Phyllidia elegans© Shawn Miller

Gymnodoris nigrocolor – parasite© Shawn Miller

Chromodoris kuniei© Shawn Miller

Chromodoris annae© Shawn Miller

Chromodoris sp -space odyssey© Shawn Miller

Janolus sp© Shawn Miller

Noumea angstolutea© Shawn Miller

Chromodoris coi© Shawn Miller

Phyllidia coelestis© Shawn Miller

Flabellina rubrolineata© Shawn Miller

Glossodoris cruenta© Shawn Miller

Chromodoris annae -Ryukyu flare© Shawn Miller

Learn more about the beautiful sea slugs of Okinawa. Check out Dr. Bolland’s Website!

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

Okinawan Sword-tailed newt – Endangered species by Shawn Miller

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Admin11

The Okinawan Sword-tailed newt (Cynops ensicauda popei) is an endangered species found on the main islands of Okinawa an Amami. It is currently listed as endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species. This amphibian is decreasing in numbers due to deforestation and road kill.

Scientific name: Cynops ensicauda popei
Distribution: Okinawa and Anami Islands
Habitat: Forests, wetlands and freshwater streams
Diet: Amphibian eggs, tadpoles, snails, worms and insects
Average size: 100-180mm

Sword tailed newt with stripes

They all have bright orange bellies, which serve as a warning sign to predators that they are poisonous. When threatened they produce a transparent skin toxin.

Poisonous animals are toxic if you eat them or ingest their secretions. Irritations may occur after handling these newts if you have open wounds. Avoid rubbing your eyes or placing your hands in your mouth.

The newt photographed in its natural habitat.

Sword-tailed newt in natural habitat

The aquatic stage of the newt has external gills. Photographed on Amami Island

Juvenile Cynops ensicauda ensicauda -Amami Island

Sword tailed newt -Onna village

Sword tailed newt – Onna village

Sword tailed newt -yanbaru forest

An average looking sword-tailed newt with a blood sucking leech

Sword-tailed newt with leech

The Sword- tailed newt is often found crossing the road on rainy days in northern Okinawa.

Newt crossing

The government has designed specialized wildlife steps for animals that get trapped in roadside drainage ditches. These steps allow the newts to crawl out safely.

Wildlife steps

Please pay attention to crossing wildlife

Road kill- Sword tailed newt Sword tailed newt

If you like newts, you have to check out the coolest newt on the planet, Anderson’s crocodile newt.

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.

The Art of Underwater Motion by Shawn Miller

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Admin11

As an underwater photographer, there will be a time when you feel all your photographs look similar and you might lose interest for a while. Creating motion in still photographs will definitely give you a new challenge and purpose. The goal is to try to show some type of motion in a still photograph. The photographs emphasize the energy, power and or speed of the subject moving. Dramatic motion images will provide depth and variety to your portfolio.

Try panning or dragging the shutter underwater

Move the camera in sync with the moving subject while the shutter stays open. A slow shutter speed will be necessary to achieve this.
Once you understand this technique try adding flash at the end of the exposure to freeze the motion of the subject (Rear curtain sync).
Get creative and add a spin the camera

Striped surgeonfish on the move (Rear curtain sync)

Anemone fish with a spin ( RCS )

Dragging the shutter underwater

Sea whip – feel the flow

Ocean art ( slow shutter with a spin )

Angelfish on the move ( Rear curtain sync )

Striped surgeonfish and coral reef (RCS)

Indian mackerel feeding

Sunset wrasse reef racing ( RSC )

Ctenochaetus striatus on the move

Parrotfish on the move

Coral with a spin -Ie Island

Masked bannerfish on the move ( RCS )

Motion sickness (In camera triple exposure)

Scuba-diving with a spin (RCS)

Hopefully these images will inspire you to try something new underwater!

The Light & Motion Stella 2000 rocks part 1 – Okinawa, Japan

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Admin11

The Stella 2000 offers lightweight professional lighting for photographers and videographers. It delivers 2000 lumens of beautiful wide light on high power. It is waterproof to a depth of 100 meters and extremely durable.

My favorite features of the Stella 2000

Waterproof to 100 meters
Can be mounted on the camera hot-shoe, light stand, loc-line arms or ball mounts.
Quick adjustable power output control
Fast charging and the ability to use the light when it’s charging

I tested the Stella 2000 in the humid jungle and on the shorelines of northern Okinawa. I used it as a spotting light, hiking light, camera modeling light and video light. I tested the light with the 120-beam angle with no modifiers, with custom-made soft-boxes attached, studio umbrellas and with the combination of on-off camera flash.

I concentrated on the reptiles, amphibians and land crabs of northern Okinawa. Below are some of my favorite photographs.

Shawn Miller – Crabs with beach trash homes. photographed by David Orr

Okinawa green tree frog -Stella 2000 diffused on hotshoe

Holst's frog (endangered) Stella 2000 bare with back lighting from headlights

Ryukyu Tip nosed frog ( Endangered ) Stella 2000 diffused through an umbrella

Ishikawa's frog (endangered) Stella 2000 diffused with fill flash

Princess habu - Diffused through an umbrella

Kuroiwa's ground gecko (Endangered) Stella 2000 with fill flash

IHallowell's tree frog -Stella 2000 with fill flash

Pryer's keelback feeding on a white jawed frog

No need to worry about dropping the light in the salt water or placing it on the sand. The Stella 2000 is extremely durable.

Ghost crab - Fill flash and back-lighting Stella 200

Crabs with trash homes -Stella 2000 and fill flash

Making the journey (Geograpsus grayi) Stella 2000 with fill flash

Hermit crab and plastic- Stella 2000 with fill flash

Ghost crab feeding- Stella 2000 with fill flash

yukyu kajika frog Stella 2000 and fill flash

Solid as a rock- Stella 2000

Friends and supporters – Save 20% off your first Light & Motion purchase https://prz.io/648x6bGC1

I have been using Light & Motion lights for over four years now and they keep getting better! Stayed tuned for testing the Stella 2000 underwater !

Ryukyu tip-nosed frog (Odorrana narina) – Frogs of Okinawa

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Admin11

The Ryukyu tip-nosed frog ( Odorrana narina) is found in Northern Okinawa. This endemic frog is currently listed endangered on the IUCN red list. It’s biggest threat is habitat loss.

Scientific name: Odorrana narina
Common name: Ryukyu tip-nosed frog
Distribution: Yanbaru forest, Northern Okinawa
Habitat: Forest streams and mountain slopes
Diet: Insects, centipedes and small invertebrates
Average size: 50mm – 75mm

Ryukyu tip-nosed frog – Stella 2000

The Ryukyu tip-nosed frog is a medium sized frog. It hides in holes and crevices in the daytime.

Ryukyu tip-nosed frog – Tokina 10-17mm

Ryukyu tip-nosed frog

Odorrana narina – frogs of Okinawa

It feeds during the night on small insects and centipedes.

Ryukyu tip-nosed frog -wide angle macro, Stella 2000

It is sometimes found on roads searching for food after heavy rains.

Ryukyu Tip-nosed frog -Red list

Be careful and pay close attention to crossing wildlife.

Crossing wildlife- wide angle macro

Road kill- Ryukyu Tip-nosed frog

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.

The King of the Yanbaru forest – Holst’s frog

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Admin11

The Holst’s frog ( Babina holsti ) is a rare species found in northern Okinawa. It is currently listed endangered on the IUCN red list. It is designated as a natural monument by the Okinawa Prefecture. This large amphibian is decreasing in numbers due to habitat loss.

Scientific name: Babina holsti (Boulenger, 1892)
Distribution: Northern Okinawa-Japan
Habitat: Forest streams
Diet: Insects, worms, snails and small reptiles
Average Size: 100mm -125mm

The King- Holst’s frog

The Holst’s frog is the largest frog found on Okinawa. It hides in holes, crevices and small caves in the day.

Searching for food

This is a size comparison photograph taken with the iPhone 6s. This is a good size frog but they do get larger than this.

Comparison – Iphone6s

The juveniles have a dark brown patch on the top section of the body. They blend in very well with their habitat.

Juvenile Holst’s frog

They are sometimes found searching for food on the back roads of Northern Okinawa.

Juvenile Holst’s frog – Yanbaru

Be careful and pay close attention to crossing wildlife!

Crossing wildlife

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

Category Archives: Animals of Okinawa

Akamata – The Ryukyu odd-tooth snake

Hummingbirds on Okinawa By Shawn Miller

Asian grass frog – Amphibians of the Ryukyu Islands

Okinawa green tree frog – Ryukyu Islands

Nudibranchs – Colorful sea slugs of Okinawa

Okinawan Sword-tailed newt – Endangered species by Shawn Miller

The Art of Underwater Motion by Shawn Miller

The Light & Motion Stella 2000 rocks part 1 – Okinawa, Japan

Ryukyu tip-nosed frog (Odorrana narina) – Frogs of Okinawa

The King of the Yanbaru forest – Holst’s frog