The Habu Hunters of Okinawa

Posted on December 25, 2019 by Admin11

The Taiwanese Habu was introduced to Okinawa in the 1970’s. They were imported for exhibitions and medical purposes. Somehow a few escaped and have populated the Island. I have seen over a dozen on my night hikes in Onna village.

Scientific name: Protobothrops mucrosquamatus
Common name: Taiwanese habu or Brown spotted pit viper
Habitat: Rock walls, trees, and caves
Diet: Frogs, bats, mice, and birds
Average size: 80-150cm

Taiwanese babus snakes of Okinawa -Protobothrops mucrosquamatus — Taiwanese habu

The local government is actively trying to eliminate this invasive habu. Live traps are set up all around the Island. Do not open!

Last night, I saw a Taiwanese habu poking its head out of the sugar cane. There was a dead mouse three feet away on the road. I turned the car around and waited for a few minutes with my lights off. Eventually, a small Taiwanese habu slithered out of the field. I was hoping to see the habu eat the mouse. Instinct kicked in and the snake fled the scene. I returned in the morning, and the mouse was gone.

Dangerous habu snakes — Taiwanes habu- Onna village

I often find them crossing the road or on sidewalks. It is wise to carry a flashlight on your night walks. The Taiwanese habu is aggressive and highly venomous. If you see one do not try and catch it.

Taiwanese habu- neighborhood at night -Protobothrops mucrosquamatus — Taiwanes habu- Onna village

Habu snake on a fence — Taiwanes habu- Onna villlage

Okinawa has three species of pit vipers. If you would like to learn more, check out my previous post on the venomous snakes of Okinawa.

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. Please consider making a contribution to support my mission

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

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

Posted on March 11, 2018 by Admin11

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

A Pryers Keelback snake with a unique pattern searching for frog eggs. 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 © Shawn Miller

Look close at the split tongue flickering back.

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 © Shawn Miller

They generally feed on the animals head first.

Ryukyu Kajika frog © Shawn Miller

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

Never give up – © Shawn Miller

Holding on tight – Never give up!

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 © 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 © 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.

Worms with tongues ! Blind snakes of Okinawa

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Admin11

The Brahminy bind snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) is a non-venomous snake found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. They are fairly common here on Okinawa. I often find them in drainage ditches, on roads and sidewalks. These small snakes are overlooked and mistaken for worms.

Scientific name: Ramphotyphlops braminus
Local name: Mekurahebi – Brahminy Blind snake
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Forests, Grasslands and sugar cane fields
Diet: Termite pupae and ant larvae
Average size: 15cm -21cm
Color: Dark brown

Blind snake -Okinawa, Japan

What is the main difference between the blind snake and a worm ?

The blind snake has scales, a split tongue and a backbone (vertebrate)
Worms have soft skin with ring like segments called annuli and lack a backbone (Invertebrate)

A photograph of a large earthworm (Pontoscolex sp) I found on Kume Island.

Unidentified earthworm - MYN and under Blue light Kume Island

Unidentified earthworm (15-22cm) Kume Island

The blind snake is the only know snake to be parthenogentic throughout its entire life. The female lays fertile eggs without the need of a male to fertilize the eggs. This is why the blind is so successful in establishing populations.

This small snake is also know as the flower pot snake, thriving in backyard flower pots and gardens.

Flower pot snake -Okinawa

The blind snake produces a powerful foul smelling odor to deter predators when threatened. I found this out by picking the snake up to remove it off the road.

Blind snake -size perspective

The blind snake has a modified sharp pointy tail used for anchoring and as a defense mechanism when attacked .

Blind snake tail

All the blind snakes I have seen on Okinawa are dark brown. My friend Paul found these blind snakes under a rotting log. This was my first time seeing a blue color form.

bind snake color forms

This week I found three dead blind snakes in Kin village. The warm weather (91-93 Fahrenheit) is drying out the top layer of soil and pushing the snakes out on the pavement.

Blind snake -dried from summer heat

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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

Akamata – The Ryukyu odd-tooth snake

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Admin11

The Ryukyu odd-tooth snake (Lycodon semicarinatus) is a non-venomous snake found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. They are fairly common here on Okinawa and are usually found at night. The Akamata is a natural enemy of the venomous Habu snake. They are one of the few snakes capable of feeding on venomous pit vipers. More effort should be focused on conserving this native snake for this specific reason. This beautiful snake has been overlooked and needs to be protected. Sadly I see more dead on the road than alive.

- Scientific name: Lycodon semicarinatus
- Local name: Akamata – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake

- Distribution: Ryukyu Islands

- Habitat: Forests, drainage ditches, and housing areas

- Diet: Snakes, lizards, frogs, snakes, birds, baby sea turtles, and rodents.

- Average size: 100cm -180cm

Color: Black, orange with a yellow belly.

They are often found crossing the road at night.

Akamata – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake © Shawn Miller

When threatened they pull back, stand high and prepare to strike! They will bite when threatened.

Akamata – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake © Shawn Miller

This beautiful juvenile was photographed on a white for the Meet Your Neighbours Project. (Connecting People Worldwide with the Wildlife in their Community)

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake -MYN © Shawn Miller

An albino specimen photographed in captivity at the local zoo.

Albino Akamata snake

The slow and low perspective found crossing the road at night.

Crossing the road – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake © Shawn Miller

The small snakes often feed on small lizards. This beauty ate a common gecko tail first.

Akamata feeding on a gecko – tail first © Shawn Miller

A large Akamata feeding on an Okinawa tree frog.

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake feeding © Shawn Miller

A juvenile Akamata feeding on an Okinawa tree lizard.

Ryukyu odd-tooth feeding © Shawn Miller

The Akamata is one of the few snakes that feed on sea turtle hatchlings in northern Okinawa.

Akamata – feeding on sea turtles © Shawn Miller

This was my first time seeing a juvenile akamata pull back and puff out its head to resemble the diamond shape of a venomous pit viper.

Is the coincidence or mimicry? I know this is a common occurrence with other non-venomous snakes around the world. I believe this juvenile snake saw me as a threat.

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake puffing its head © Shawn Miller

Mimicry moment © Shawn Miller

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.

The hunt for the habu – Izena Island

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Admin11

Izena Island is known for not having any venomous snakes on the Island. I always thought this was impossible since the surrounding islands all have venomous snakes. After five trips we finally found a Habu.

The Princess habu was found resting on a rock above a fresh water source.

The Princess habu – Photo by David Orr

Hime habu – Izena Island

The Hime habu was found October 9th 2016 on Izena Island. It was located at the Izena castle site.

Izena castle -Iphone 6s

A sign at the port welcomes visitors to to the beautiful Island. It states – no habu on the Island.

Izena Island welcome sign- No Habu

Be safe exploring the beautiful Islands of Okinawa.

Learn more about the venomous snakes of Okinawa in my previous blog post. https://okinawanaturephotography.com/venomous-snakes-of-okinawa-japan/

Venomous snakes of Okinawa-Japan

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Admin11

Okinawa has three species of pit vipers and one coral snake. These venomous snakes are commonly found in the jungle. They are sometimes found in neighborhoods and local parks at nighttime during the summer season. Majority of the snake bites that I am familiar with happened on neighborhood night walks or harvesting sugar cane. I have seen pit vipers on public roads at night, on sidewalks, crawling on fences, on rock walls, in drainage ditches and inside vending machines.

Drink machine – Photo by Leia Heider

The Okinawan Habu is the largest and most venomous pit viper found on Okinawa.

Scientific name: Protothrops flavoviridis
Common name: Okinawan or golden habu
Habitat: Rock walls, caves, tree lines, parks, farming fields and near fresh water
Diet: Mice, rats, shrews, bats, and birds
Average size: 100-200cm

Okinawan Habu (Trimeresurus flavoviridis)

Fangs of the Okinawan Habu

Okinawan habu -Northern Okinawa

Okinawan Habu on a fence -WAM perspective

Okinawan Habu- MYN field studio technique

The silver habu is scarce on Okinawa. I have only found one live specimen. I didn’t realize what I found until I viewed the images on the computer,

Silver habu

Silver habu- eyes of silver

Albino Habus are worshiped in Okinawa.

Albino Habu snake

Okinawa is famous for its Habu Sake. They say it helps with sexual dysfunction in men.

Habu sake – Trimeresurus flavoviridis

Scientific name: Protothrops mucrosquamatus
Common name: Taiwanese habu or Brown spotted pit viper
Habitat: Rock walls, trees, and caves
Diet: Frogs, bats, mice, and birds
Average size: 80-150cm

Taiwanes habu- Onna village. Ready to strike!

Taiwanese habu- patiently waiting for a frog

Taiwanese habu -Onna village, Okinawa

Taiwanese habu- neighborhood at night

The Princess habu is the most common venomous snake on Okinawa. It is the smallest of the pit vipers found here.

Scientific name: Ovophis okinavensis
Common name: Princess habu or Hime habu
Habitat: Rivers, ponds, creeks and runoff ditches.
Diet: Mainly frogs
Average size: 40-80cm

Princess habu -Yanbaru forest

Large Princes habu- Yanbaru

Golden Hime habu

Princess habu -MYN technique

Princess Habu- Stella 2000

Princess habu – Northern Okinawa

The Okinawan coral snake is extremely rare. I have only seen two specimens

- Scientific name: Sinomicrurus japonicus boettgeri

- Common name: Okinawan coral snake

- Habitat: Forest areas in northern Okinawa

- Diet: blind snakes and small lizards

Average size: 30-60cm

Ways to avoid injury!

Avoid catching or handling venomous snakes
Wear exposure protection, such as snake boots when exploring the forest at night.
Bring a flashlight on night walks in the neighborhood

Mission

To document and preserve the wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

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.

Okinawa Nature Photography

沖縄自然写真 By Shawn Miller

Tag Archives: snakes of okinawa

The Habu Hunters of Okinawa

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

Worms with tongues ! Blind snakes of Okinawa

Akamata – The Ryukyu odd-tooth snake

The hunt for the habu – Izena Island

Venomous snakes of Okinawa-Japan