The Paintpot Cuttlefish – Cephalopods in Okinawa

Posted on October 13, 2019 by Admin11

The Paintpot cuttlefish (Metasepia tulbergi) is one of the most beautiful marine animals in Okinawa. The skin of the paintpot cuttlefish is toxic (poisonous) if consumed. The paintpot cuttlefish contains a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin (venom) used to paralyze its prey. Avoid handling or harassing this beautiful animal. If bitten, seek immediate medical treatment.

Scientific name: Metasepia tulbergi
Common name: Paintpot cuttlefish or flamboyant
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Sandy bottom and coral reefs
Diet: Crabs, shrimp, and fish
Average size: 50-80mm
Color: Golden-yellow with red coloration

Cool facts about the Paintpot Cuttlefish

They have eight arms and two tentacles
They are capable of producing a dark cloud of ink to escape from predators
They have a parrot-like beak used for eating prey
They use jet propulsion to move quickly through the water
They can change their texture, pattern, color, and shape
They use their arms to walk on the sand
They are considered venomous and poisonous

When threatened, the paintpot cuttlefish produces vibrant colors to warn predators that they are toxic. The scientific term for this is aposematism.

They have a two-part parrot-like beak used for feeding.

Cephalopods can produce a cloud of ink to confuse and escape from predators when threatened.

Below is a sequence of images, displaying their ability to change texture, shape, and color. They are masters of camouflage. An example of how well they blend into their environment.

If detected or threatened, they will display colorful warning signs.

Every year, I look forward to finding the gigantic paintpot cuttlefish named Paintpot-Zilla.

My Mission: To Protect and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for Future Generations

If you would like to help me make a difference Please check out my Patreon Site https://www.patreon.com/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

House Geckos of Okinawa

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Admin11

The house gecko is the most abundant reptile on Okinawa. They can be found in apartments, buildings, public restrooms, outdoor phone booths, and vending machines. In many countries, they are considered good luck in the home.

Scientific name: Hemidactylus frenatus
Japanese name: Yamori
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Forests, apartments, and public restrooms
Diet: Insects and small spiders
Average Size: 50mm-67mm

Interesting facts about house geckos –

They have the ability to lay eggs on vertical walls
They have no eyelids
They can walk upside-down
When threatened they can release their tail
They communicate by making loud chirping sounds

House geckos have amazing night vision.

Their tongues are used for grooming, catching food, and searching for a mate.

They have specialized walking pads with tiny hairs called setae. These hairs allow them to stick to surfaces and even walk up vertical walls.

Geckos are often found around artificial light sources (vending machines). The lights attract insects during the night. A buffet for the geckos!

Geckos and other wildlife are found in public restrooms. The light source attracts a variety of insects. Always check the scene before you sit down, you never know what’s hiding behind the toilet.

During the day, geckos seek shelter in warm areas. House geckos are responsible for high repair costs on air conditioning units. They crawl on the AC circuit board and cause it to short circuit. Repair costs are very expensive.

House geckos usually lay only two eggs. This is a good example of a communal nesting site. These eggs were laid on a vertical concrete wall.

Geckos are often found crossing public roads during the night. Please pay attention to crossing wildlife. The ants took advantage of the roadkill.

I often find geckos on local beaches near the coastal forest. Juvenile Ryukyu odd-toothed snakes (Akamata) prefer to feed on these sand-dwelling geckos.

Even the geckos have to adapt with our waste. I found this gecko under a piece of marine debris washed ashore in northern Okinawa.

My Mission: To Protect and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands for Future Generations

If you would like to help me make a difference Please check out my Patreon Site https://www.patreon.com/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

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

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

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!

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

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.

In the daytime, they live in caves, crevices, and holes in the ground

They come out to feed at night.

When they feel threatened they will stand up on all fours and try to intimate you with a stare down.

They have some strange looking feet –

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.

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

Okinawa Nature Photography

沖縄自然写真 By Shawn Miller

Tag Archives: nature of okinawa

The Paintpot Cuttlefish – Cephalopods in Okinawa

House Geckos of Okinawa

Nudibranchs – Colorful sea slugs of Okinawa

The Art of Underwater Motion by Shawn Miller

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