Searching for the Amami Oshima Frog by Shawn Miller

The Amami Oshima frog is featured in National Geographic this month for the series ” Wildlife As Canon Sees It “

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The Amami Oshima Frog (Odorrana splendida) is considered the most beautiful frog found in Japan. It is only found on Amami Island and is listed as an endangered species. It is one of the many endemic species facing extinction due to habitat loss. This protected species is designated as a living national treasure of Okinawa.

  • Scientific name: Odorrana splendida
  • Distribution:  Amami Island
  • Habitat:  Forest streams 
  • Diet:  Insects, worms, and millipedes
  • Average Size:  90mm-110mm

Odorrano splendida 6 Amami Island

We were on the Island for a short period of time but managed to see eight Amami Oshima frogs. It rained the entire time but that didn’t stop us, we were on the mission to find the endemic species. I explored the island with Zoologist Valdimir Dinets and bat Scientist Jason Preble.  We were fortunate to see the Amami rabbit, Amami Jay, Owston’s woodpecker, Hime habu, Ryukyu robin, Amami woodcock, Amami Spiny rat, Otton frog, Amami tip-nosed frog, Whip scorpion, Wood pigeon, Coral snake, Crocodile newt and the banded ground gecko endemic to Tokunoshima. Below are some of my favorite images of the Amami Oshima frog in it’s natural habitat.

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We also found a small pond with Amami Oshima tadpoles.

IMG_0655Please pay attention wildlife crossing the roads at night.

Ishikawas frog - Roadkill

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 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 

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

The Canon 70D Is Back In Action!

Last month, I received a memory card lock error on my Canon 70D Body.  I sent it off to Canon USA for repair. Canon replaced the shutter assembly and a few covers. They informed me that my 70D shutter exceeded the normal life expectancy at a total of 156,642. I purchased this camera body in January 2014. This camera body has been the most durable and reliable camera body that I have owned so far.

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Canon 70D:  Favorite features

  • Fully-articulated touchscreen 
  • High ISO capabilities
  • Responsive auto focus system
  • Lightweight and compact

Below are some of my popular photographs taken with the Canon 70D. Featured in National Geographic, BBC, WWF, IUCN, and Scientific publications.

I often use the Canon 70D to photograph fluorescence in the Yanbaru forest. This is a custom setup I use to photograph flowers and animals.

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller

The equipment I use for my Series   “Crabs With Beach Trash Homes

  • Canon 70D
  • Tokina 10-17mm
  • L&M Stella 2000
  • Canon 270ex flash

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

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

Thanks to Canon USA for the great customer service and quick turnaround!

 

The Chinese soft-shell turtle – Aquatic turtles of Okinawa

This year we have had an abundance of rain on Okinawa. Locals have been finding a great deal of turtles on the road, specifically the Chinese soft-shell turtle ( Pelodiscus sinensis ). This soft shell turtle was originally introduced as a food source. This species is currently listed as vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List.

  • Scientific name: Pelodiscus sinensis
  • Common name: Chinese softshell turtle
  • Distribution: Introduced to most of Japan and the Ryukyu Islands
  • Habitat: Ponds, drainage ditches, rice paddies and farm fields.
  • Diet: Insects, fish, frogs, snails, and plants
  • Average size: 30-35cm
  • Color: Olive gray

An adult soft turtle found in the farm fields at night.

Chinese soft-shell turtle ( Pelodiscus sinensis )A large female I found laying eggs on the bank of a small water source.

7602942662_f0f7eb1520_zA closeup of a soft turtle infested with leaches. Stop staring!

Chinese soft-shell turtle ( Pelodiscus sinensis )Meet chunky

0K2A8570The beautiful farm fields of Okinawa, prime habitat for aquatic turtles.

Sunrise - Kin Marsh, Okinawa

 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.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Bottle Cap Challenge – No Kicking Just Picking!

The bottle cap challenge is a viral trend started by martial artist Farabi Davletchin. He was the first person to perform a precision spin kick and twist off the cap of the bottle using his foot.  In 2017, I started a my own bottle cap challenge. The goal was to see how many twist top caps I could collect in fifteen minutes. Its an exciting challenge and I recommend getting others involved. Make it a friendly competition and document your beach trash finds using the Clean Swell app by Ocean Conservancy.

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Over the years, I have seen a significant increase in the amount of marine debris washed ashore. The trash is from all over the world, but majority of it washes up from Korea, China and Japan

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Next time your at the beach, take a minute and look around at the amout of single use waste on the beach. How do you feel when you see this waste?

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Majority of the plastic bottles/caps that wash ashore become brittle and break down into smaller pieces. The smaller pieces (micro plastics) are harder to find and clean up.

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Eventually these smaller pieces make it back into the ocean affecting the wildlife. Marine birds often mistaken and eat this plastic because it looks and smells like their natural diet (ex: fish eggs, crabs and small fish).

IMG_9105Even the marine fish will sometimes eat the plastic, they are attracted by the smell as well.
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Hermit crabs are one of the few animals that can successfully adapt with our waste. They  eventually move into this valuable real estate (plastic caps) and use it as a protective mobile home until they find a better option. Below are photographs of hermit crabs found naturally adapting with plastic twist caps.

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This popular hermit crab was featured in honor of World Oceans Day 2019 on Stella McCartney’s website. Thank you all for bringing awareness to the plastic pollution problem.

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If you would like to learn more about hermit crabs adapting with our waste please check out my post on “Crabs With Beach Trash Homes” by Shawn M Miller.

My Mission: To Protect and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for Future Generations. – If you would like to join my journey, check out my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/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.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Cryptic fish, Comets and Stars by Shawn Miller

The Comet (Calloplesiops altivelis) is a type of marine betta found in the beautiful waters of Okinawa. They hide in caves during the day. At night they come out to feed on small crustaceans. They are a mysterious fish and can be challenging to photograph. Comets are uncommon, yet very little is know about the behavior of these cryptic animals.

  • Scientific name:  Calloplesiops altivelis
  • Common Name: Comet (Marine betta)
  • Distribution:  Ryukyu Islands
  • Habitat: submarine caves
  • Diet:  crustaceans and fish
  • Average Size:  20cm 

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Calloplesiops altivelis © Shawn Miller

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Calloplesiops altivelis © Shawn Miller

Look close, can see the resemblance between the comet and the spotted moray eel?

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Gymnothorax meleagris © Shawn Miller

When threatened the comet will stick its head into a hole and expose its tail end, which mimics the head of the a dangerous moray eel.  The caudal fin also has detailed white lines that resemble the razor sharp teeth. 

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Calloplesiops altivelis © Shawn Miller

Having trouble getting close to marine life during your night dives? I recommend using the Light & Motion Sola 1200 red light feature. This feature enables the user to photograph marine life during the night without disturbing them. Most marine animals do not see the color red or react less to the red light.

Underwater setup with sola 600

Underwater setup with sola 600

 

 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.

 

Featured Artist | Rodel Santo Domingo

kuinacourierRodel Santo Domingo is a creative artist inspired by nature. I have collaborated with RSD on two occasions, The first was the Coral Conservation art show and the second was the Sharks and Rays fundraiser. Both events were a huge success!

Purpose of the art shows:  To educate others about these amazing creatures and the major threats they are facing. To donate some of the profits from the art pieces to conservation organizations.

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  Conservation Works of Art by Rodel Santo Domingo

Rodel Santo Domingo has had the itch to create since he was four years old, selling dinosaur drawings to his neighbors. Simultaneously, it was his interest in wildlife (at that time, prehistoric) that lead him to pick up the blunt chunks of subpar Roseart crayons. For a short time, he got really bummed out when he realized all dinosaurs are pretty much gone. Unless Jurassic Park happened for real, he’d only be able to imagine what they were like. Enter: the Ferrari F40. What is this wondrous red beast? Mom told him he was going to be a rich doctor, so he’ll probably have an F40 if he really wanted one. Inspired by the prospect of being able to obtain the object of his freshest desires, Rodel lost all the crayons, got some hot wheels, and started practicing his vroom vrooms.

Fast forward a few years, Rodel is introduced to the school library. Charlotte’s Webb seemed interesting. It had a lot of animals, so that seemed nice. But Rodel knew it was all fake. But then ZooBooks, though, that’s a nice publication. Rodel became deeply fascinated by the natural world, even without dinosaurs. In classes where students had to cut out pages from donated magazines to craft a collage, Rodel often found himself just reading the National Geographics. From then on, he thought that maybe he’ll be a biologist.

Rodel wasn’t very good in school. But he did find himself extremely happy whenever out in the wild. In high school he volunteered at Fort Funston, San Francisco, wildlife reserve. There was a surprising amount of awesome animals and plants in San Francisco. Eventually, he gained much knowledge of the local wildlife, both the natural and the product of society types, to start exploring San Francisco’s large urban forests, where he would spend hours digging trails and riding his mountain bike. While academics weren’t looking so good, Rodel knew nature made him happy.

Then he broke his leg. No story needed, it wasn’t in a cool way. But it was pretty severe, involving ORIF surgery and various casts to be used for about half a year. Unable to go mountain biking and getting sick of Call of Duty, Rodel found interest in comics. He immersed himself in the far from natural worlds of Brandon Ghaham’s King City, Tsutomi Nihei’s Biomega, and Q Hayashida’s Dorohedoro. Inspired by the beautiful lineart of his new favorite form of enjoyment, Rodel began to practice illustration. A few years later, back on the mountain bike, and true to the cliche, Rodel developed a thing for craft beer and whisky. He also noticed that there is not a comic book out there that combines mountain biking, retro Japanese cars, bad guys in white suits, and nice beer and whisky. Not being one to be held back by the limitations of outlines and planning, he immediately started making pages. Over the next few years, he worked on the comic, creating five 22 page issues, twice. After the redo, it still didn’t really make sense, but he got a lot of drawing practice out of it.

Life went on. Rodel married a beautiful woman, went on a honeymoon, went back home, went back with his wife to where he had his honeymoon, somehow ended up just staying there. Attracted to craft beer, he finds employment with a local beer company, Okinawa Brewing. Originally, he entered thinking he will get to take part in making the beer. That wouldn’t be the case, but he did find that he enjoyed making pizza very much. At the time, the restaurant portion of the serving room was brand new and the menus were photocopied versions of the worse possible menu draft, complete with cross-outs and varied levels of penmanship. Rodel seized the opportunity to draw something that a whole bunch of strangers would have to look at.

By chance, the big artist who made a lot of the great art for Okinawa Brewing, including several epic acrylic pieces on surfboards, Hazel Cruzado, came in and saw the menus. She asked to know who the artist was and invited him to take part in a group art show to raise ecological awareness for sea turtles. Conveniently, the show would also be held at where he works. The event went very well, with all pieces being sold except one: a baby sea turtle floating away on a balloon. It received much attention but was already going to someone as a gift. Happy with the experience, Rodel continued to do art events with the same eco-minded art group at Okinawa Brewing. In between shows he also launched his own mini displays. Featured themes included the Ryukyu Ken (the island’s dog breed), Paul (his own dog), and sea life enjoying pizza and beer. Nearby, at Tacos & Coffee (Chatan, Okinawa), Rodel entered three pieces featuring his favorite of the Okinawan wildlife: the Ryukyu Sword-tailed Newt.

In March 2019, Rodel held his first large solo display at a local craft beer bar called Beear in Ginowan, Okinawa. While all thirteen pieces did feature wildlife, the theme was beer.

The following month, Rodel would do his first mural. He painted a mermaid and coral scene on Okinawa Brewing’s front wall. The piece would catch the eye of many passing tourists who would take pictures with it.

While afraid of the sea, the beauty of it has provided the inspiration and reason for much of Rodel’s success as an artist in Okinawa. He will continue to paint the beautiful creatures of the sea, especially the ones that represent his island home. But being a forest guy, he will also continue painting the creatures that he shares his mountain bike trails with.

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Check out more of his stunning work on his website and follow him on Instagram.

Have a great day, Shawn M Miller.

Frogs of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Individuals that study amphibians are know as herpetologists. The act of searching for these beautiful animals is known as herping. Okinawa has twelve species of frogs. They all have the ability to live in the water and on the land. Most are nocturnal and feed on insects during the night. They are found in local parks, forests, streams, puddles, and on the road at times.

If you would like to learn more about a specific frog, I attached a link above each photograph. Links in red are endangered species.

 Rana ulma – Ryukyu brown frog 

Ryukyu Brown frog (Rana ulma)

Babina holsti – Holsts frog 

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Odorrana ishikawae – Ishikawa’s frog  

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

  Limnonectes namiyei –  Namie’s frog

Namies frog- Stella 2000

 Hyla halowelii – Hallowell’s tree frog 

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Odorrana narina – Ryukyu Tip-nosed Frog 

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 Rhacophorus viridis viridis – Okinawa green tree frog

Natural habitat

Rana limnocharis limnocharis – Asian grass frog 

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Polypedates leucomystax leucomystax – White jawed frog

IMG_7036 Microhyla okinavensis – The Ornate narrow-mouth frog 

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  Buegeria japonica – Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog - Amami Island

 Rana catesbeiana – American bullfrog 

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 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 

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.

 

Masters of Evasion – The Bobtail Squid of Okinawa

The spotty bobtail squid ( Eumandya parva is a small cephalopod found in the beautiful waters surrounding Okinawa. They are hard to find due to their small size. Persistence, patience, and diving with a buddy with good eyes will increase your chances of finding them.

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  • Scientific name: Eumandya parva
  • Common Name: Bobtail Squid
  • Found:  Ryukyu Islands
  • Habitat: Open water @ night
  • Average Size: 15mm – 25mm

Bobtail squid have eight arms and two tentacles used to capture prey. They have a two part parrot-like beak used for feeding. They primarily feed on small crustaceans free swimming in open water.

43057477232_9a230ddb9f_zWhat’s really impressive about cephalopods is that they are masters of evasion.  They are equipped with advanced mirroring cells. These cells can change shape and color to match their surrounding. These vibrant chromotophores are also used for communication and attracting a mate.

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The bobtail squid has the ability to produce a large ink cloud (smoke screen) when in danger. This cloud of ink will confuse predators and give the squid a chance to escape safely.

9055908826_9fd643b9e2_z 11545089173_d92e317cd9_zSquid have wing-like fins used for precision movement through the open water. Their siphon is used for jet propulsion, allowing a clean getaway from predators.
15231802761_420c562a03_z They can also evade predators by covering up with sand to avoid detection.

7047055933_2ab7599067_bI found this large Euprymna brenneri covering itself with sand to avoid detection. I have only seen two of these in the waters of Okinawa. A new species decribed in December 2019.

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 Euprymna brenneri

Mating season occurs in the summer months. 

mating bobtail squidLook close and you can see the white bundle of spermatophores produced during the mating process. The eggs will be fertilized and attached to a safe location under a reef ledge. Tiny bobtail squid will hatch from their eggs in three weeks.

bobtail squid and eggsIf you would like to learn more about the Cephalopods of Okinawa, check out my previous posts on the blue-ringed octopus, pygmy squidpharaoh cuttlefish and the shell eating octopuses of Okinawa.

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 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

Get Fa-Millerized with the Nature of the Ryukyu Islands  – – –  SUBSCRIBE BELOW

World Oceans Day 2019 – Okinawa, Japan

June 8th 2019, is designated as Wold Oceans Day. It’s a day encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. We can all do a better job making a difference, our lives depend on it.

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I have traveled to many of the outer Islands in the Ryukyu Island chain. Every Island has an abundance of marine debris washed ashore from Japan, China and Korea.  Below are some of the documentation photographs taken on Iheya Island.

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This post is not to make people sad, guilty or lose hope, It is to bring awareness to the ongoing trash problem in our oceans and on our shorelines.
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Learn more about making a difference, TEDx talk | Adapting to or Changing Environment by Shawn M Miller

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.

 

The Shorelines of Iheya Island Turn Red

Mass coral spawning took place this weekend on Izena, Iheya and Noho Island. I have been waiting a very long time to see this natural wonder.

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Coral spawn slick

Coral spawning takes place late at night during high tide. When many species of coral spawn on the same night it naturally forms a mass of gametes know as a coral spawn slick. These coral slicks eventually wash ashore the next morning. These brightly colored coral slicks give off a very strong odor that will stick in my memory forever. 

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Coral spawn slick

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Coral spawn slick art

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Iheya beach – RW&B

While exploring the island we stumbled upon more bright coral slicks. We often explored beaches polluted with single use waste. As you can see our trash is a series problem in our oceans and the shorelines worldwide.

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Coral spawn slick and trash

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Pink Coral spawn slick

Look close and you can see single-use waste and micro plastic floating on the surface of the water

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Coral colored spawn slick

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Red coral splash

Noho Island had a thick smelling coral slick at the local fishing port.  A group of locals showed up to go swimming but immediately decided it was a bad idea and went to another location.

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Noho – Fishing port

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Coral spawn slick washed up

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Noho fishing port

Learn more about making a difference, TEDx talk | Adapting to or Changing Environment by Shawn M Miller

 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.