| Ateuchosaurus pellopleurus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lectotype of A. pellopleurus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Scincidae |
| Genus: | Ateuchosaurus |
| Species: | A. pellopleurus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ateuchosaurus pellopleurus (Hallowell, 1861) | |
The Ryukyu short-legged skink (Ateuchosaurus pellopleurus) is a species of skink. It is found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. [2]
Whilst A. pellopleurus was originally recognized as a single species ranging across the Osumi, Tokara, Amami, and Okinawa Groups of the Ryukyu Archipelago, molecular analysis has found that the skinks in the Osumi and Amami groups are distinct from those in the Okinawa group. A. pellopleurus sensu stricto is now the name for the species in the Osumi and Amami groups, whilst A. okinavensis is resurrected for the species in the Okinawa group. [3]
This species is found in the leaf litter of forest floors and grasslands, including small vegetation around urban areas. It occurs on Mishima of the Osumi Group, and the Tokara and Amami Groups of the Ryukyu Archipelago. The congeneric species Ateuchosaurus okinavensis is present in the Okinawa group, where A. pellopleurus is absent. [3] A skeletal remain, likely dating from the late 19th century, has been found on Yoronjima Island, but it is unclear if this represents A. pellopleurus or A. okinavensis as Yoronjima is outside the current range of either species. [4]
On Iojima Island, the local population is preyed upon by the introduced Indian peafowl. [3]
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.
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 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.
The Tokara Islands is an archipelago in the Nansei Islands, and are part of the Satsunan Islands, which is in turn part of the Ryukyu Archipelago. The 150 kilometres (81 nmi) chain consists of twelve small islands located between Yakushima and Amami-Oshima. The islands have a total area of 101.35 square kilometres (39.13 sq mi). Administratively, the whole group belongs to Toshima Village, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Only seven of the islands are permanently inhabited. The islands, especially Takarajima, are home to the Tokara Pony.
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.
Takydromus smaragdinus, the green grass lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae.
Ryukyuan culture are the cultural elements of the indigenous Ryukyuan people, an ethnic group native to Okinawa Prefecture and parts of Kagoshima Prefecture in southwestern 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.
Plestiodon marginatus, the Ousima skink or Okinawa blue-tailed skink, is a species of skink. It is endemic to the central and northern parts of the Ryukyu Islands (Japan).
Plestiodon oshimensis, the Ousima skink or Oshima blue tailed skink, is a species of skink. It is endemic to the Amami Islands.
Ateuchosaurus okinavensis, the Ryukyu short-legged skink, is a species of skink. It is found in the Okinawa Islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan.
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