Endemic Animals of Nansei-shoto

The Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) is a subspecies of the Leopard cat that lives exclusively on the Japanese island of Iriomote. It is viewed by many biologists as a "living fossil," and is not much changed from its primitive form. First described by Dr. Imaizumi of Tokyo’s National Science Museum in 1967, this wild cat is about the size of a domestic cat and has the short legs of a predator that forages in thick u ...
ndergrowth. These animals in the wild live for 7-8 years, and 8-9 in captivity, with the longest lifespan known in captivity to be 15 years. Less

The Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle or Ryukyu leaf turtle, Geoemyda japonica, is a species of turtles in the family Geoemydidae (formerly Bataguridae) endemic to the Ryukyu Islands in Japan. In 1975, the species was designated a National Natural Monument of Japan. It grows to about 5–6 inches long. In captivity, it feeds on worms, snails, insects, and fruit. Due to its rarity and very attractive appearance, this species is highly coveted by tu ...
rtle collectors worldwide. At first it was considered a subspecies of Geoemyda spengleri, and named Geoemyda spengleri japonica. It was redescribed as a separate species and given its current binomial name in 1992.Hybrids between different genera of Geoemydidae are rather commonplace. This species is known to hybridize with Cuora flavomarginata males in captivity and in the wild. Less

Iwasaki's snail-eater, Pareas iwasakii, is a species of snake in the family Pareidae. The species is endemic to the Yaeyama Islands in the southern Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Less

The Kuroiwa's ground gecko (Goniurosaurus kuroiwae ) (from Japanese: クロイワトカゲモドキ/黒岩蜥蜴擬), also known as the Ryuku eyelid gecko, Kuroiwa's leopard gecko, Kuroiwa's eyelid gecko, Okinawan ground gecko, or Tokashiki gecko, is a species of lizards in the family Eublepharidae. The species is endemic to the Okinawa Islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Less

Achalinus werneri, also known commonly as the Amami odd-scaled snake and the Amami Takachiho snake, is a species of snake in the family Xenodermatidae. The species is endemic to the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. There are no subspecies that are currently recognized. Less

Kishinoue's giant skink (Plestiodon kishinouyei ) is a species of skink, a lizard in the family Scincidae, endemic to the southern Ryukyu Islands of Japan.The species name is a tribute to Japanese fisheries biologist Kamakichi Kishinouye (岸上 鎌吉, 1867–1929). Less

Takydromus smaragdinus, the green grass lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. Less

Kikuzato's brook snake (Opisthotropis kikuzatoi), also known commonly as Kikuzato's stream snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Japan. Less

The Ryukyu spiny rat (Tokudaia osimensis ) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. Endemic to Amami Ōshima island in the Amami Islands of the Ryukyu archipelago of Japan, its natural habitat is subtropical moist broadleaf forest. The karyotype has an odd diploid number, 2n = 25. Like its relative T. tokunoshimensis, it has lost its Y chromosome and SRY gene.The species is threatened by habitat destruction and fragmentation, predation by ...
feral cats and dogs and introduced mongooses, and competition with introduced black rats. Less

Muennink's spiny rat (Tokudaia muenninki ) or Okinawa spiny rat (Japanese: オキナワトゲネズミ, romanized: Okinawa togenezumi or 沖縄棘鼠) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.Endemic to Okinawa Island, Japan, its natural habitat is subtropical moist broadleaf forest. The karyotype has 2n = 44. Its sex chromosomes are abnormally large, while the other two species in Tokudaia have lost their Y chromosome. It is found only on the northern part (Yanbaru area) of the island, above ...
300 m, and is thought to inhabit an area of less than 3 km2.The head and body are up to 7 inches long with a 5-inch tail. They weigh up to 7 ounces. They have a short thick body and dense fur, consisting of fine hairs and coarse, grooved spines (hence the common name “spiny rat”). The fur is brownish above and grayish white below with a faint orange tinge. The spines on the animal's back are black throughout while the spines underneath are usually white with a reddish-brown tip. The spines cover the body except for the regions around the mouth, ears, feet and tail. The tail is bi-colored for its entire length.The species is threatened by deforestation, predation by feral cats and introduced mongooses, and competition with introduced black rats. In March 2008, the first wild specimen in over 30 years was caught in the northern part of Okinawa island. Less

The Ryukyu long-tailed giant rat or Ryukyu rat (Diplothrix legata ) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only extant species in the genus Diplothrix. It is found only in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. Less

The Tokunoshima spiny rat (Tokudaia tokunoshimensis ) is a rodent found only on the island of Tokunoshima in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. Due to its small habitat, it is considered endangered. It is commonly found in the secondary and primary subtropical moist broadleaf forests of this island. The karyotype has an odd diploid number, 2n = 45. Like its relative T. osimensis, it is one of the few mammals that lack a Y chromosome and SRY gene.The ...
species is threatened by deforestation and predation by feral cats and dogs. Less

The Ryukyu shrew (Crocidura orii ), also known as Orii's shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae. It is endemic to Japan. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The lesser great leaf-nosed bat or lesser roundleaf bat (Hipposideros turpis ) is a species of bat in the family Hipposideridae. It is found in Japan. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. Less

The Southeast Asian long-fingered bat (Miniopterus fuscus ) is a species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae. It is endemic to Japan. It has been assessed as endangered by the IUCN. Less