Hermit crabs living in plastic tubes by Shawn Miller

Posted on September 13, 2020 by Admin11

One of my favorite things to do is to go beachcombing after typhoons. 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 the majority of it washes up from Korea, China, and Japan

The resourceful hermit crabs take full advantage of plastic tubes and twist top caps. They move into this valuable real estate and use it as a protective mobile home until they find a better option.

Hermit Crabs prefer to live in a natural seashell. Due to a decline in the number of seashells, the hermit crabs have to adapt with our trash to survive. Below are photographs of hermit crabs found naturally adapting with the plastic tubing.

Lucky was the first hermit crab I photographed adapting with plastic tubing. (2014)

The long plastic tubing slows down their movement. Not the ideal mobile home for a hermit crab.

Sometimes I find them living in clear plastic. Over time the plastic turns yellow and becomes brittle. Eventually, it will break up into microplastic.

Every hermit crab found adapting with our waste receives a new home (seashell). I bring a bucket with an assortment of shells with me on my beach hikes. The hermit crabs are placed in the bucket and make the switch. They get a better home and I keep the plastic.

I was surprised to find this small blueberry hermit crab using a jump rope handle as a mobile home. The crab switched into a tapestry turban shell (mts4n #29) immediately.

The hermit crab is one of the few animals that can successfully adapt with our waste. 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.

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. Hopefully, these images will inspire people to change.

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands. – 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 bringing solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

Gigantic Banana Spiders on Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Admin11

The golden orb weaver (Nephila pilipes) is the largest spider found on Okinawa. They can be found in parks, forests and gardens. This massive spider is fairly common on Okinawa.

Always look up!

They usually make their web up high in trees. I have also seen their web in the middle of a trail at eye level.

Scientific name: Nephila pilipes
Common Name: Golden orb weaver / banana spider
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Forests, gardens and parks
Diet: Insects
Average Size: Female 17-20cm

Their web is extremely strong. They have been know to catch small bats, cicadas and a variety of large insects

This species displays sexual dimorphism, The female is much larger than the male.

Nephila pilipes fluoresces under ultraviolet light. The fluorescence serves as a warning sign for large animals. Making a spider web this size takes a lot of time and effort.

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

Ryukyu green snake – Reptiles of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Admin11

The Ryukyu Green snake (Cyclophiops semicarinartus)

is a non-venomous snake found throughout the Ryukyu Islands They are fairly common here on Okinawa. I often find them in the Yanbaru forest. They are harmless and pose no threat to your safety.

- Scientific name: Cyclophiops semicarinartus

- Local name: Ryukyu Ao Hebi – Ryukyu Green snake

- Distribution: Ryukyu Islands

- Habitat: Forests and grasslands

- Diet: Earth worms

- Average size: 60cm -80cm

Color: Olive green with a yellow belly

Ryukyu Green snake (Cyclophiops semicaricartus) © Shawn Miller

Ryukyu Green snake closeup

There’s a snake on my snake boot! I highly recommend wearing snake boots while herping in northern Okinawa. Check out my post on venomous snakes of Okinawa for more info.

Snake boot – Ryukyu Green snake (Cyclophiops semicaricartus) © Shawn Miller

A juvenile Ryukyu green snake interested in the Canon 100mm 2.8 lens.

Ryukyu snake on the Canon 100mm macro lens © Shawn Miller

The snakes are sometimes found crossing the road a night.

Headshot- Ryuyu Green snake © Shawn Miller

Ryukyu Green snake – Amami Island

Ryukyu Green snake (Cyclophiops semicaricartus) © Shawn Miller

My son holding a juvenile Ryukyu Green snake. This friendly snake was on display to educate the youth. Yanbaru Wildlife Center.

Ryukyu Green snake

The Ryukyu Green snake feeds on earthworms, no need to kill it.

Road Kill – Ryukyu Green snake and beetles © Shawn Miller

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

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

Asian grass frog – Amphibians of the Ryukyu Islands

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Admin11

The Asian grass frog ( Fejervarya kawamurai) is found on Mainland Japan and most of the Ryukyu Islands. The warty frog is fairly common on Okinawa. It’s biggest threats are pesticide exposure and habitat loss.

Scientific name: Fejervarya kawamurai
Common name: Asian grass frog, marsh frog and common pond frog
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands and Mainland Japan
Habitat: Rice fields, ditches, marshes, parks and farm fields.
Diet: Insects
Average size: 45mm-75mm
Color: light brown with a white belly

Asian grass frog – Canon 70d * 60mm macro

Wide angle macro – Canon 70d *Tokina fisheye

Asian grass frog- Macro

Asian marsh frog – drainage ditch

Asian marsh frog

Asian grass frog feeding

Asian marsh frog – Okuma resort

Asian grass frog -MYN

Egret feeding -the last goodbye

Have a great day!

Okinawa green tree frog – Ryukyu Islands

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Admin11

The Okinawa green tree frog ( Rhacophorus viridis viridis ) is found on Okinawa, Iheya and Kume Island.

Scientific name: Rhacophorus viridis viridis
Common name: Okinawa Green tree frog
Distribution: Okinawa, Kume, and Iheya.
Habitat: Forests, mountain slopes and farm fields near water.
Diet: Insects
Average size: 45mm-75mm
Color: Olive green, Bright green and dark brown

Okinawa Green tree frog © Shawn Miller

This beautiful frog is a master of camouflage. I often find it resting on tree branches, blending in with the surrounding green leaves.

Natural habitat © Shawn Miller

Green tree frog © Shawn Miller

Amami green tree frog ( Rhacophorus viridis amamiensis) © Shawn Miller

The breeding season stretches from February to April on Okinawa.

Green tree frog mating © Shawn Miller

On Kume Island the tree frogs transform to a golden brown when mating.

Kume Island tree frog © Shawn Miller

They construct a foam nest on a tree branch above a still water source. Eventually, the foam liquefies when the eggs are ready to hatch.

Frog foam nest © Shawn Miller

Not all frogs survive to make the nest. The Akamata is the most common snake on the Okinawan Islands. It feeds on venomous habu snakes, baby sea turtles, lizards, and frogs.

Akamata snake feeding © Shawn Miller

Photographed on white for the Meet your Neighbours global biodiversity project.

MYN Technique © Shawn Miller

I often find this frog searching for insects on the road.

” Know your nature with Shawn Miller ” Let’s protect the wildlife of Okinawa.

The Ryukyu Robin, Endemic birds of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Admin11

The Ryukyu Robin (Larvivora komadori namiyei) is a subspecies endemic to northern Okinawa. It is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN red list of threatened species. Its main threats are habitat loss and the introduction of invasive species.

Scientific name: Larvivora komadori namiyei (Stejneger, 1887)
Distribution: Northern Okinawa
Habitat: Dense leaf littered forests
Diet: Earthworms, spiders, insects and fruit
Average Size: 140mm

The Ryukyu robin in its natural habitat. The male has the distinctive black throat and face.

The female Ryukyu robin perching on a guide rope at Hiji falls, Okinawa.

A male Ryukyu robin searching for insects on the ground.

Time for a nap on a fern tree.

Luscinia komadori komadori is a subspecies found on Amami Island. The flank is white and black.

Luscinia komadori komadori, Amami Island

These small birds are often seen early in the morning feeding on insects on the road. Watch your speed and pay particular attention between dusk and dawn.

A male Ryukyu robin that was killed by a speeding motor vehicle on Route 2 in northern Okinawa.

Let’s protect the beautiful wildlife of Okinawa, Japan.

Have a great day!

Underwater Macro Photography with an Ikelite housing

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Admin11

I have always enjoyed shooting macro photography ever since I purchased my first camera. Underwater Macro photography is challenging due to currents, buoyancy control and back-scatter in the water. Below are a few underwater images photographed using the Canon 70D with a Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 USM macro lens. The Camera and lens are enclosed in an Ikelite underwater housing. I am currently using one Ikelite DS-160 strobe along with one Ikelite DS-200 underwater.

Crowned Puffer (Canthigaster coronata) Okinawa, Japan

Honeycomb coral (Diploastrea heliopora) Okinawa- Japan

Crocea Clam (Tridacna Crocea) Okinawa-Japan

Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) Okinawa-Japan

If you are living In Okinawa-Japan and would like to purchase any Ikelite product, I highly recommend Ikelite Military Sales. You can contact them directly on Facebook with the link below. I usually receive my orders within five to seven days. This is very fast shipping living overseas.

https://www.facebook.com/ikelite.camhousings

If you are having trouble with the initial set up of your underwater system and need assistance contact me.

Stay tuned for more underwater images with the Canon 70d.

Okinawa Nature Photography

沖縄自然写真 By Shawn Miller

Tag Archives: okinawa nature