Pryers Keelback Snake – Reptiles of the Ryukyu Islands by Shawn Miller

As of March 2018, The Pryers Keelback (Hebius pryeri) is considered a venomous snake found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. They are rear-fanged and require a strong long-term chewing style bite to inject the venom into the wound.  They are a very common snake found on Okinawa. I often find them in the Yanbaru forest on my night dwellings.

  • Scientific name: Hebius pryeri
  • Local name: The Pryers Keelback
  • Distribution:  Ryukyu Islands
  • Habitat:  Forests, grasslands, streams and rice fields
  • Diet:  Frogs, frog eggs and small reptiles
  • Average size:  60cm-115cm
  • Color:  Black & yellow with yellow bell

This year (2018) the Okinawa government posted some education posters to bring awareness about the snakes of Okinawa. I was surprised to see the Pryers Keelback is now considered venomous.

Venomous snakes of Okinawa

Venomous snakes of Okinawa

A Pryers Keelback snake with a unique pattern searching for frog eggs. Kume Island

The Pryers Keelback -Kume Island

The Pryers Keelback -Kume Island © Shawn Miller

A juvenile Keelback searching for frogs near a fresh water stream. Izena Island

 Pryers Keelback - Izena Island

Pryers Keelback – Izena Island © Shawn Miller

Look close at the split tongue flickering back.

 Pryers Keelback - Yanburu forest

Pryers Keelback – Yanburu forest © Shawn Miller

The Pryers Keelback mainly feeds on the small frogs. Its favorite meal is the Kajika frog!

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog © Shawn Miller

They generally feed on the animals head first.

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog © Shawn Miller

Sometimes you will see them eat frogs feet first. This makes for a more interesting photograph.

Never give up

Never give up – © Shawn Miller

Holding on tight – Never give up!

Snake feeding on kajika frog

Snake feeding on kajika frog © Shawn Miller

One of my favorite photographs of snake predation. A very large Pryer’s keelback feeding on a White jawed frog. 

Pryer's keelback feeding on a white jawed frog

Pryer’s keelback feeding on a white jawed frog © Shawn Miller

I often find these snakes dead in the road. A large Yanbaru forest crab (Candidiopotamon okinawense) took advantage of the situation.

Yanbaru forest crab feeding on a snake

Yanbaru forest crab feeding on a snake © Shawn 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.

 

 

 

 

Ryukyu Kajika frog – Amphibians of the Ryukyu Islands

The Ryukyu Kajika frog (  Buergeria japonica ) is found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. It is the most common frog found on Okinawa.

  • Scientific name: Buergeria japonica
  • Common name: Ryukyu Kajika frog
  • Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
  • Habitat: Forests, mountain slopes, drainage ditches and farm fields.
  • Diet: Small Insects
  • Average size: 25mm-40mm
  • Color: Olive green, brown and golden yellow

This small frog is a master of camouflage. I often find it on rocks, plants, trees, drainage ditches and even our trash.

Ryukyu Kajika frog on tatami mat

Ryukyu Kajika frog on tatami mat

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog -macro

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog – Kume Island

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog- manhole cover

This is the only frog on Okinawa that is capable of living on the shoreline next to the ocean. I have photographed them as close as five feet away from the saltwater.

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Ryukyu Kajika frog- skin discoloration

Beach dwelling Kajika frog

Beach-dwelling Kajika frog

Beach dwelling Kajika frog

Beach-dwelling Kajika frog

A beautiful Kajika frog in the jungles of Iriomote Island.

Kajika frog -Iriomote Island

Kajika frog -Iriomote Island

Photographed on white for the Meet Your Neighbours Project

Ryukyu Kajika frog - MYN

Ryukyu Kajika frog – MYN

The males turn a golden yellow during mating season. The season stretches from April to September on Okinawa.

Ryukyu Kajika frog - Amami Island

Ryukyu Kajika frog – Amami Island

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Ryukyu Kajika frog – mating

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog – drainage ditch

The eggs are laid in slow-moving and still water sources. The eggs will develop into tadpoles and eventually transform into baby frogs.  I often find tadpoles thriving in farming water buckets.

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Juvenile Kajika frog

The summer months provide a great opportunity for natural predators.The frogs come together in large numbers.

Crab feeding on frogs

Crab feeding on frogs

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Pryer’s keelback feeding

Never give up

Never give up

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Never give up -Okinawa, Japan

If you see frogs, there is a possibility that snakes are nearby. The snakes patiently wait for frogs in drainage ditches and still water sources. The Kajika frog is the Hime habu’s favourite meal.

Hime habu - GoPro

Hime habu – GoPro

Have a great day!