Venomous snakes of Okinawa-Japan

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Admin11

Okinawa has three species of pit vipers and one coral snake. These venomous snakes are commonly found in the jungle. They are sometimes found in neighborhoods and local parks at nighttime during the summer season. Majority of the snake bites that I am familiar with happened on neighborhood night walks or harvesting sugar cane. I have seen pit vipers on public roads at night, on sidewalks, crawling on fences, on rock walls, in drainage ditches and inside vending machines.

Drink machine – Photo by Leia Heider

The Okinawan Habu is the largest and most venomous pit viper found on Okinawa.

Scientific name: Protothrops flavoviridis
Common name: Okinawan or golden habu
Habitat: Rock walls, caves, tree lines, parks, farming fields and near fresh water
Diet: Mice, rats, shrews, bats, and birds
Average size: 100-200cm

Okinawan Habu (Trimeresurus flavoviridis)

Fangs of the Okinawan Habu

Okinawan habu -Northern Okinawa

Okinawan Habu on a fence -WAM perspective

Okinawan Habu- MYN field studio technique

The silver habu is scarce on Okinawa. I have only found one live specimen. I didn’t realize what I found until I viewed the images on the computer,

Silver habu

Silver habu- eyes of silver

Albino Habus are worshiped in Okinawa.

Albino Habu snake

Okinawa is famous for its Habu Sake. They say it helps with sexual dysfunction in men.

Habu sake – Trimeresurus flavoviridis

The Taiwanese Habu was introduced to Okinawa in the 1970’s. They were imported for exhibitions and medical purposes. Somehow a few escaped and have populated the Island. I have seen over a dozen on my night hikes near Ryukyu Mura in Onna village.

Scientific name: Protothrops mucrosquamatus
Common name: Taiwanese habu or Brown spotted pit viper
Habitat: Rock walls, trees, and caves
Diet: Frogs, bats, mice, and birds
Average size: 80-150cm

Taiwanes habu- Onna village. Ready to strike!

Taiwanese habu- patiently waiting for a frog

Taiwanese habu -Onna village, Okinawa

Taiwanese habu- neighborhood at night

The Princess habu is the most common venomous snake on Okinawa. It is the smallest of the pit vipers found here.

Scientific name: Ovophis okinavensis
Common name: Princess habu or Hime habu
Habitat: Rivers, ponds, creeks and runoff ditches.
Diet: Mainly frogs
Average size: 40-80cm

Princess habu -Yanbaru forest

Large Princes habu- Yanbaru

Golden Hime habu

Princess habu -MYN technique

Princess Habu- Stella 2000

Princess habu – Northern Okinawa

The Okinawan coral snake is extremely rare. I have only seen two specimens

- Scientific name: Sinomicrurus japonicus boettgeri

- Common name: Okinawan coral snake

- Habitat: Forest areas in northern Okinawa

- Diet: blind snakes and small lizards

Average size: 30-60cm

Ways to avoid injury!

Avoid catching or handling venomous snakes
Wear exposure protection, such as snake boots when exploring the forest at night.
Bring a flashlight on night walks in the neighborhood

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 below.

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

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

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.

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

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

Pay attention to crossing wildlife!

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

Facing extinction – Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Admin11

Ishikawa’s frog (Odorrana ishikawae) is the most beautiful frog found in Japan. It is only found in northern Okinawa and currently on the endangered species list. It is one of the many endemic species facing extinction due to habitat loss. Ishikawa’s frog is a designated living national treasure of Okinawa.

Scientific name: Odorrana ishikawae
Distribution: Northern Okinawa-Japan
Habitat: Forest streams
Diet: Insects, worms, and millipedes
Average Size: 90mm -120mm

This is my favorite frog on Okinawa. I have only seen about a dozen in the last three years.

shikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) Yanbaru forest ,Okinawa

They live around mountain streams in the Yanbaru forest. They hide in cracks and crevices in the rocks making it hard to photograph them at times.

Ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) Yanbaru forest ,Okinawa

They are also masters of camouflage. The unique pattern helps them blend into the moss and leaves on the riverside.

The Ishikawa’s frog was featured in Amphibian Love – an artbook for the frogs. Artist Leah Jay created this book to show the beauty and fascinating variety of amphibians, and bring attention the the Amphibian Extinction Crisis.

If you are lucky you might find a blue Ishikawa’s frog. The blue morph is absolutely beautiful.

Blue Ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae) © Shawn Miller

Blue Ishikawa's Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)

A large blue and green morph.

A juvenile Ishikawa’s frog searching for food. (Wide angle perspective)

herpetologists dream come true - the find

Sometimes they can be seen crossing the road!

Be careful and pay close attention to crossing wildlife.

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

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: Reptiles and amphibians

Venomous snakes of Okinawa-Japan

Anderson’s Crocodile Newt- Endangered species

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

Facing extinction – Ishikawa’s Frog (Odorrana ishikawae)