Ryukyu Long tailed Giant Rat – Ryukyu Islands

Posted on January 21, 2017 by Admin11

The Ryukyu Long-Tailed Giant Rat (Diplothrix legata) is an endangered species found on Amami, Tokuno and Okinawa Island. This rare species is currently listed as endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species. It’s biggest threats are deforestation, feral cats, dogs and the introduced mongoose. I often see it crossing the road during the night in the Yanbaru forest. Please pay attention to crossing wildlife and drive at a safe speed.

Ryukyu Long-tailed giant rat

Yanbaru – balancing on a power line

Searching for food – Natural habitat

Below, Is a disturbing scene I stumbled upon in northern Okinawa. I don’t know exactly what ate this mid-sized rat but more than likely it was a feral cat.

Ryukyu Long-Tailed Giant Rat (Diplothrix legata)

Feral cats are a huge problem in Northern Okinawa.

Feral cats by Shawn Miller

Please watch your speed while driving through the wildlife protected area in Northern Okinawa.

The Yanbaru forest is designated as a wildlife protection area by the Okinawan prefecture, It extends from Nago to Kunigami village.

Yanbaru forest

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 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.

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.

Nature Therapy – Photo Exhibition by Shawn Miller

Posted on January 18, 2016 by Admin11

The Exhibition will be held at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) January 14th through February 29th. The free photo exhibition is open from 9:00 to 17:00 every day. The exhibition will feature forty inspiring images of underwater animals, crabs with beach trash homes and the endangered species of Okinawa. Photography By Shawn Miller. The wonderful people at OIST were kind enough to make this exhibition take place and produce beautiful advertisement posters.

Nature Therapy Poster 2016 – Shawn Miller

Some of my favorite images are featured below. I photographed the gallery with a fish eye lens to give it a unique perspective.

Blueberry hermit crab – Meet your neighbours project

Surgeon fish on the move – Motion

Crabs with trash homes – Meet your neighbours project

Kuroiwas ground gecko -Endangered

A Blenny playing Peek a Boo

Typhoon swirl – The art of motion

Ryukyu black breasted leaf turtle -endangered

Boxer crab – Marine life of Okinawa

Okinawa rail- endemic to northern Okinawa

Video by Gary Hughes. FrontPageOkinawa – Hughes Media Technologies

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More information about Shawn Miller and Nature Therapy – http://www.japanupdate.com/2016/01/oist-hosts-nature-photo-exhibition/

Namie’s frog (limnonectes namiyei) – Amphibians of Okinawa

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Admin11

The Namie’s frog ( Limnonectes namiyei ) is an endangered species found only in northern Okinawa. It is currently listed threatened on the IUCN red list of endangered species. This amphibian is decreasing in numbers due to deforestation and the use of pesticides.

Scientific name: Limnonectes namiyei
Distribution: Northern Okinawa-Japan
Habitat: Forest streams
Diet: Insects
Average Size: 70mm -115mm

Namie’s frog -Yanbaru forest

Namie’s frog- Photographed using the Stella 2000

Namies frog- Stella 2000

Massive legs allow them and capture prey with lightning speed.

Namie’s frog ( limnonectes namiyei )

Webbed feet allow them to quickly escape predators in the water.

Namie’s frog – Top view

Wide angle perspective – showing the environment it lives in.

Namie’s frog – Wide angle macro

Be careful and pay close attention to crossing wildlife.

Road dweller- Namie’s frog with leeches

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.

Endangered – The Black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) Okinawa, Japan

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Admin11

The Black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) is a common winter visitor in southern Okinawa. The spoonbill is currently endangered and has an estimated population of less than 3000. It’s biggest treats are habitat loss, pollution and pesticides. The Black-faced spoonbill is currently listed critically endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species.

Scientific name: (Platalea minor)
Distribution: Okinawa, Korea, China, Taiwan and Japan
Habitat: Mud flats, mangroves and wetlands
Diet: Fish
Average Size: 73.5 cm

The Black-faced spoonbill in flight

The Black-faced spoonbill is a magnificent animal.

The beautiful Black-faced spoonbill

The Black-faced spoonbills work as a team when hunting for fish.

The Black-faced spoonbill-community hunting

Out of all the birds at the mudflats, the spoonbills are the most consistent hunters. They rest most of the day, but when its time to fish they always catch one fairly quickly.

The Black-faced spoonbill-hunting

The Spoonbills in flight

Black-faced Spoonbill in flight

Black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor)

The Spoonbill landing – The art of conveying Motion !

Th Black-faced spoonbill -landing

Let’s Protect the beauty of Okinawa!

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.

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.

Slow Down! – Let’s Protect The Okinawa Rail

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Admin11

The Okinawa rail is a flightless bird found in northern Okinawa. It is a protected species and declared a living natural treasure. It is currently listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as an endangered species. In 2012 populations of this endemic bird were estimated at 1500 by the Environment Ministry. As of October 2016 populations have declined to 480 mature individuals according to IUCN assessment.

Scientific name: Hypotaenidia okinawae

Common Name: Okinawa Rail

Distribution: Northern Okinawa

Habitat: Forests

Diet: Small insects, worms, snails and fruit.

Average Size: 31cm

Threats: Habitat loss and the threat of Jungle crows and mongoose.

The rail is often found feeding on the side of the road. It feeds on worms, snails, and insects.

Okinawa rail posing ( Hypotaenidia okinawae)

When defending its territory, the rail will become aggressive and flare its wings.

If you are lucky you can catch the Okinawa rail feeding on the fruit of the cherry tree.

Okinawa rail feeding ( Hypotaenidia okinawae)

They roost high above the ground to avoid predators like the habu snake.

Okinawa rail roosting ( Hypotaenidia okinawae)

In 2014 I stumbled upon Scientists handling an adult Okinawa rail in the wild.

Awareness signs are posted along the main roads in northern Okinawa for their protection. I think they should also include speed bumps in the designated crossing areas for the rails.

The speed limit is only 40km/h so watch your speed for the protection of the wildlife. The rails are often seen feeding on the side of the road.

I have observed these birds crossing the road on many occasions. They have no problems crossing when people are driving the speed limit. Speeding decreases your reaction time, slow down and pay attention to all crossing wildlife.

An Okinawa rail that was killed by a speeding motor vehicle on Route 2 in northern Okinawa.

What to do if you find an injured rail.

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.

Light & Motion – The ultimate flashlight for wildlife photographers.

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Admin11

I have been using the Light & Motion Sola underwater lights for over two years now. I take them on all my adventures to include scuba diving, river trekking, caving and nature photography trips. These lights provide constant beautiful lighting and are extremely reliable, which is why they are the perfect light for me.

I recently purchased the Light & Motion Sola compact tray with the extension kit and one GoBe 700 wide light. I have been using this setup with the Canon 70D to document the wildlife in Okinawa. The flexible Loc-line arms are an awesome advantage. They are easy to move while having full control over the constant lighting.

Light & Motion field setup Photograph courtesy of Ross Gallardy

A photograph of a Ryukyu kajika frog in northern Okinawa using the Light & Motion field setup

Ryukyu Kajika frog ( Buergeria japonica )

The Light & Motion Sola 600 has a built in feature most people do not take advantage of. The light has a red light function which allows the user to get close to land and marine subjects without disturbing them. This red light is very effective and I highly recommend using it.

My underwater rig with the Light & Motion Sola 600 – Ikelite housing and strobes

The Light & Motion Nightsea Sola light can also be used on land. I am always searching for animals that fluoresce in the Yanbaru forest in northern Okinawa. You never know what you will find!

Light & Motion Sola Nightsea Blue light - Riukiaria falcifera

Light & Motion Sola Nightsea Blue light Millipede – Riukiaria falcifera

If you would like to know more about the Light & Motion Sola series visit. https://www.lightandmotion.com/choose-your-light/sola

Have a great day!

Okinawa Nature Photography

沖縄自然写真 By Shawn Miller

Tag Archives: endangered species in okinawa

Ryukyu Long tailed Giant Rat – Ryukyu Islands

Okinawan Sword-tailed newt – Endangered species by Shawn Miller

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

Nature Therapy – Photo Exhibition by Shawn Miller

Namie’s frog (limnonectes namiyei) – Amphibians of Okinawa

Endangered – The Black-faced spoonbill (Platalea minor) Okinawa, Japan

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

Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, Yanbaru forest

Slow Down! – Let’s Protect The Okinawa Rail

Light & Motion – The ultimate flashlight for wildlife photographers.