| Ateuchosaurus okinavensis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Live individual from Urasoe, Okinawa | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Ateuchosaurus |
| Species: | A. okinavensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Ateuchosaurus okinavensis (Thompson, 1912) | |
| Synonyms | |
Ateuchosaurus okinavensis, the Ryukyu short-legged skink, is a species of skink. It is found in the Okinawa Islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. [1]
This species was originally described as Lygosoma okinavensis in 1912, with the holotype (CAS 21537) being collected from Nago, Okinawajima Island. [2] In 1939 it was synonymized with Ateuchosaurus pellopleurus , and A. pellopleurus sensu lato was thought to range across the Ryukyu Islands. [3] However, a 2023 molecular study found that the skinks in the Osumi and Amami groups are distinct from those in the Okinawa group. Thus, the name A. okinavensis was resurrected for the species in the Okinawa group, whilst A. pellopleurus sensu stricto is now the name for the species in the Osumi and Amami groups. [4]
A. okinavensis is endemic to the Okinawa Islands, where it is found in the leaf litter of forest floors and grasslands. It is seen primarily in the daytime, though can sometimes also be seen at night. The congeneric A. pellopleurus occurs in similar habitats on Osumi, Tokara and Amami groups, where A. okinavensis is absent. [4]
A skeletal remain of an Ateuchosaurus skink, likely dating from the late 19th century, has been found on Yoronjima Island. Though originally reported as A. pellopleurus, this identification occurred when the two Japanese Ateuchosaurus species were synonymized, and it is currently unclear if this specimen represents A. pellopleurus or A. okinavensis as Yoronjima is outside the current range of either species. [5]
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae, a family in the infraorder Scincomorpha. With more than 1,500 described species across 100 different taxonomic genera, the family Scincidae is one of the most diverse families of lizards. Skinks are characterized by their smaller legs in comparison to typical lizards and are found in different habitats except arctic and subarctic regions.
Ateuchosaurus is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus contains only two species which are indigenous to East Asia and Southeast Asia.
Cryptoblepharus is a genus of skinks, lizards in the family Scincidae. The genus contains at least 53 species.
Yoron is a town located on Yoronjima, in Ōshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
The Amami Islands is an archipelago in the Satsunan Islands, which is part of the Ryukyu Islands, and is southwest of Kyushu. Administratively, the group belongs to Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan and the Japan Coast Guard agreed on February 15, 2010, to use the name of Amami-guntō (奄美群島) for the Amami Islands. Prior to that, Amami-shotō (奄美諸島) was also used. The name of Amami is probably cognate with Amamikyu (阿摩美久), the goddess of creation in the Ryukyuan creation myth.
The Ōsumi Islands is an archipelago in the Ryukyu Archipelago, and are the northernmost group of the Ryukyu Islands, The chain extends from the southern tip of Kyushu to Yakushima. Administratively, the group belongs within Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
The Ryukyu Islands, also known as the Nansei Islands or the Ryukyu Arc, are a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Taiwan: the Ōsumi, Tokara, Amami, Okinawa, and Sakishima Islands, with Yonaguni the westernmost. The larger are mostly volcanic islands and the smaller mostly coral. The largest is Okinawa Island.
Okinawan Japanese is the Japanese language as spoken by the people of Okinawa Islands. Okinawan Japanese's accents and words are influenced by the traditional Okinawan and Kunigami languages. Okinawan Japanese has some loanwords from American English due to the United States administration after the Battle of Okinawa. Okinawan Japanese is a Japanese dialect, unlike the Northern Ryukyuan Okinawan and Kunigami languages.
Zhangixalus viridis is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and known from Okinawa, Iheya and Kume Islands of the Okinawa Group. Zhangixalus amamiensis from the Amami Group was formerly included in this species as a subspecies.
The Ryukyu flying fox or Ryukyu fruit bat is a species of megabat in the family Pteropodidae. It is found in Japan, Taiwan, and the Batanes and Babuyan Islands of the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical swamps. It is threatened by habitat loss and by hunting for food and the IUCN classify it as "Vulnerable".
Kikaijima is one of the Satsunan Islands, classed with the Amami archipelago between Kyūshū and Okinawa.
Yoronjima, also known as Yoron, is one of the Amami Islands.
Ovophis okinavensis, commonly known as the hime habu (ヒメハブ), Ryukyu Island pit viper, and the Okinawan pitviper, is a venomous pitviper species found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Okinoerabujima, also known as Okinoerabu, is one of the Satsunan Islands, classed with the Amami archipelago between Kyūshū and Okinawa.
The Satsunan Islands is a geopolitical name for a group of islands that forms the northern part of the Ryukyu Islands. The whole island group belongs to Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
Gekko shibatai is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to the Ryukyu Islands.
The Ryukyu short-legged skink is a species of skink. It is found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.
Plestiodon barbouri, also known commonly as Barbour's blue-tailed skink and Barbour's eyelid skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to the Ryukyu Islands (Japan).
The Okada's five-lined skink or Far Eastern skink is a species of lizard which is endemic to Japan.