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

Green tree frog © Shawn Miller

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

Roadside green tree frog © Shawn Miller

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

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

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 near Ryukyu Mura in Onna village.

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

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 below.

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.

The Art of Wide-Angle Macro Photography by Shawn Miller

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Admin11

Wide-angle macro photography is popular with wildlife photographers. The technique allows the photographer to document the animal in its natural habitat and show the full scene it lives in. The photographs have great impact and deliver a bug eye perspective using a wide angle lens. I generally use off-camera flash with a custom soft box to make these photographs. Lately, I have been testing a variety of on-camera flashes to achieve a different perspective. One of the biggest challenges is lighting the subject evenly with soft diffused lighting.

The most popular lenses used for wide angle macro photography ( WAM )

Tokina fisheye 10-17mm f3.5-4.5
Nikon fisheye 10.5mm f2.8
Sigma fisheye 15mm f2.8 E
Venus Laowa 15mm f4 – (Manual focus only)

The Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye is my favorite lens in my bag and has been my go-to lens for the project “Crabs with Beach Trash Homes”

Tokina fisheye lens

Below are some of my favorite wide-angle macro images photographed in Okinawa-Japan.

Fighting pose – Preying mantis, IPhone 6s © Shawn Miller

Hermit crabs of Okinawa © Shawn Miller

Geograpsus grayi with eggs © Shawn Miller

Ishikawa’s Frog – The most beautiful frog in Japan © Shawn Miller

Horn-eyed ghost crab at sunset -Nikon 10.5mm © Shawn Miller

Herping in the yanbaru forest © Shawn Miller

Crabs with trash homes – Sesoko © Shawn Miller

Golden habu on a fence © Shawn Miller

Ghost crab – Nagahama beach © Shawn Miller

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

Baby loggerhead leaving the nest © Shawn Miller

Invasive insects – Coconut rhinoceros beetle © Shawn Miller

Blue rock-thrush with wings spread © Shawn Miller

Princess habu -Yanbaru © Shawn Miller

Kuroiwa’s ground gecko crossing the road © Shawn Miller

Okinawan green tree frog © Shawn Miller

Giant stag Beetle (Dorcus titanus) -Ie Island © Shawn Miller

Okinawa tip-nosed frog ( Rana narina ) © Shawn Miller

Hermit crab at sunset © Shawn Miller

Land crab crossing the road at night © Shawn Miller

Hermit crabs with beach trash homes © Shawn Miller

On the move- Black-breasted leaf turtle © Shawn Miller

Asian long-horned beetle © Shawn Miller

Crabs with trash homes-Yomitan © Shawn Miller

Road dweller- Namie’s frog- Stella 2000 © Shawn Miller

Praying mantis @Hedo Point

zanpa lighthouse and hermit crabs

If you would like to learn more about this technique I recommend Wide-Angle Macro: The Essential Guide by Clay Bolt and Paul Harcourt Davies https://www.e-junkie.com/shop/product/482943.php

Anderson’s Crocodile Newt- Endangered species

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Admin11

Anderson’s crocodile newt is an endangered species found throughout the Ryukyu islands. It is designated as a living natural monument in Okinawa and is currently listed as endangered on the IUCN red list of threatened species. This amphibian is decreasing in numbers due to poaching and deforestation. The newt is highly valued in the illegal pet trade market. This is my favorite amphibian to photograph on my night adventures in Okinawa.

- - Scientific name: Echinotriton andersoni
- - Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
- - Habitat: Forests and wetlands
- - Diet: Worms and snails
- Average Size: 120mm -160mm

The Anderson’s crocodile newt was featured in National geographic in November 2020

Shawn Miller featured 11-2021

Photographed under the ambient light on Amami Island.

Anderson’s crocodile newt

The first Anderson’s newt I have seen with one webbed hind foot.

Webbed hind feet

I was lucky to capture the Anderson’s crocodile newt cleaning its eyes. This was the first time documenting this behavior.

Anderson’s crocodile newt

Newt with closed eye

Sometime they pick up hitchhikers, check out this blood sucking leech!

Blood sucking leech

It’s rare to find animals eating in nature. I found this Anderson’s crocodile newt feeding on an earthworm in Northern Okinawa.

Feeding, Yanbaru forest

Late in the evening the newts meet up and search for a mate.

Finding a mate, Onna Village

The aquatic stage of the newt has external gills. It slowly prepares itself for the transition into the terrestrial juvenile stage. They can be found in mud puddles in the months of May and June.

Aquatic stage -external gills

Watch your speed and pay close attention to crossing wildlife. Roadkill is a huge problem on Okinawa.

Dinosaurs of Okinawa

Watch out for crossing newts

All the roads in northern Okinawa have specialized wildlife steps for the animals that get trapped in the drainage ditch. These steps allow the newts and other animals to crawl out safely.

Wildlife steps

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 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.

Okinawa Nature Photography

沖縄自然写真 By Shawn Miller

Tag Archives: wildlife of the ryukyu islands

Okinawa green tree frog – Ryukyu Islands

Venomous snakes of Okinawa-Japan

The Art of Wide-Angle Macro Photography by Shawn Miller

Anderson’s Crocodile Newt- Endangered species

Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, Yanbaru forest