This list of reptiles of Japan is primarily based on the IUCN Red List, which details the conservation status of some one hundred species.[1] Of these, five are assessed as critically endangered (the hawksbill turtle and yellow pond turtle and the endemic Toyama's ground gecko, Yamashina's ground gecko, and Kikuzato's brook snake), ten as endangered, twelve as vulnerable, thirteen as near threatened, fifty-eight as of least concern, and two as data deficient.[1]
According to statistics accompanying the 2020 Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MoE) Red List, one hundred species and subspecies are to be found, but the conservation status of only fifty-seven is detailed.[2][3][4] Of these, five taxa are critically endangered from a national perspective, nine are endangered, twenty-three vulnerable, seventeen near threatened, and three data deficient.[2][3]
Order: Squamata (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians)
Suborder: Lacertilia (lizards)
- Family: Agamidae
- Genus: Diploderma
- Ryukyu japalure, Diploderma polygonatum NT IUCN
- Okinawa tree lizard, D. p. polygonatum (endemic subspecies) (MoE: VU)
- Sakishima tree lizard, D. p. ishigakiense (endemic subspecies) (MoE: NT)
- Yonaguni tree lizard, D. p. donan (endemic subspecies) (MoE: VU)
- Taiwan japalure, Diploderma swinhonis LC IUCN (introduced[5])
- Ryukyu japalure, Diploderma polygonatum NT IUCN
- Genus: Diploderma
- Family: Dactyloidae
- Genus: Anolis
- Green anole, Anolis carolinensis LC IUCN (introduced[5])
- Genus: Anolis
- Family: Eublepharidae
- Genus: Goniurosaurus
- Banded ground gecko, Goniurosaurus splendens EN IUCN (endemic) (MoE: EN)
- Kuroiwa's ground gecko, Goniurosaurus kuroiwae VU IUCN (endemic)
- Okinawa ground gecko, G. k. kuroiwae (endemic subspecies) (MoE: VU)
- Sengoku ground gecko, G. k. sengokui (endemic subspecies) (MoE: EN)
- Spotted ground gecko, Goniurosaurus orientalis EN IUCN (endemic) (MoE: CR)
- Toyama's ground gecko, Goniurosaurus toyamai CR IUCN (endemic) (MoE: CR)
- Yamashina's ground gecko, Goniurosaurus yamashinae CR IUCN (endemic) (MoE: CR)
- Genus: Goniurosaurus
- Family: Gekkonidae
- Genus: Gehyra
- Stump-toed gecko, Gehyra mutilata LC IUCN
- Genus: Gekko
- Hokou gecko, Gekko hokouensis LC IUCN
- Schlegel's Japanese gecko, Gekko japonicus LC IUCN
- Tawa gecko, Gekko tawaensis LC IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Yakushima gecko, Gekko yakuensis NT IUCN (endemic) (MoE: VU)
- Gekko shibatai VU IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Gekko vertebralis LC IUCN (endemic)
- Genus: Hemidactylus
- Asian house gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus LC IUCN
- Bowring's gecko, Hemidactylus bowringii LC IUCN (MoE: VU)
- Genus: Hemiphyllodactylus
- Indo-Pacific slender gecko, Hemiphyllodactylus typus LC IUCN (introduced[5])
- Genus: Lepidodactylus
- Mourning gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris LC IUCN
- Genus: Perochirus
- Micronesia saw-tailed gecko, Perochirus ateles VU IUCN (MoE: VU)
- Genus: Gehyra
- Family: Iguanidae
- Genus: Iguana
- Green iguana, Iguana iguana LC IUCN (introduced[5])
- Genus: Iguana
- Family: Lacertidae
- Genus: Takydromus
- Amur grass lizard, Takydromus amurensis LC IUCN (MoE: NT)
- Green grass lizard, Takydromus smaragdinus NT IUCN (endemic)
- Japanese grass lizard, Takydromus tachydromoides LC IUCN (endemic)
- Miyako grass lizard, Takydromus toyamai EN IUCN (endemic) (MoE: CR)
- Sakishima grass lizard, Takydromus dorsalis EN IUCN (endemic) (MoE: VU)
- Genus: Zootoca
- Viviparous lizard, Zootoca vivipara LC IUCN (MoE: VU)
- Genus: Takydromus
- Family: Scincidae
- Genus: Ateuchosaurus
- Ryukyu short-legged skink, Ateuchosaurus pellopleurus LC IUCN (endemic)
- Ateuchosaurus okinavensis (endemic)
- Genus: Cryptoblepharus
- Ogasawara snake-eyed skink, Cryptoblepharus nigropunctatus NT IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Genus: Emoia
- Littoral whiptail-skink, Emoia atrocostata LC IUCN
- Beach skink, E. a. atrocostata (MoE: VU)
- Littoral whiptail-skink, Emoia atrocostata LC IUCN
- Genus: Plestiodon
- Barbour's blue-tailed skink, Plestiodon barbouri VU IUCN (endemic) (MoE: VU)
- Far-Eastern skink, Plestiodon latiscutatus LC IUCN (endemic)
- Kishinoue's giant skink, Plestiodon kishinouyei VU IUCN (endemic) (MoE: VU)
- Okinawa blue-tailed skink, Plestiodon marginatus NT IUCN (endemic) (MoE: VU)
- Ousima skink, Plestiodon oshimensis NT IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Senkaku skink, Plestiodon takarai DD IUCN (endemic) (MoE: EN)
- Shanghai elegant skink, Plestiodon elegans LC IUCN
- Stimpson's skink, Plestiodon stimpsonii NT IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Plestiodon finitimus LC IUCN
- Plestiodon japonicus LC IUCN (endemic)
- Plestiodon kuchinoshimensis VU IUCN (endemic) (MoE: DD)
- Genus: Scincella
- Boettger's ground skink, Scincella boettgeri LC IUCN (endemic)
- Tsushima ground skink, Scincella vandenburghi LC IUCN
- Yonaguni ground skink, Scincella dunan (endemic)
- Genus: Ateuchosaurus
Suborder: Serpentes (snakes)
- Family: Calamariidae
- Genus: Calamaria
- Collared reed snake, Calamaria pavimentata LC IUCN
- Miyara's collared reed snake, C. p. miyarai (MoE: VU)
- Pfeffer's reed snake, Calamaria pfefferi EN IUCN (endemic) (MoE: EN)
- Collared reed snake, Calamaria pavimentata LC IUCN
- Genus: Calamaria
- Family: Colubridae
- Genus: Elaphe
- Beauty ratsnake, Elaphe taeniura VU IUCN
- Sakishima beauty ratsnake, E. t. schmackeri (endemic subspecies) (MoE: VU)
- Taiwan beauty ratsnake, E. t. friesi (introduced[5])
- Japanese four-lined ratsnake, Elaphe quadrivirgata LC IUCN
- Japanese ratsnake, Elaphe climacophora LC IUCN (albino form at Iwakuni is a Natural Monument[6])
- Keeled ratsnake, Elaphe carinata LC IUCN
- Chinese keeled ratsnake, E. c. carinata (MoE: EN)
- Yonaguni keeled ratsnake, E. c. yonaguniensis (endemic subspecies) (MoE: EN)
- Beauty ratsnake, Elaphe taeniura VU IUCN
- Genus: Euprepiophis
- Japanese woodsnake, Euprepiophis conspicillata LC IUCN
- Genus: Lycodon
- Ryukyu odd-tooth snake, Lycodon semicarinatus LC IUCN (endemic)
- Oriental odd-tooth snake, Lycodon orientalis LC IUCN (endemic)
- Red-banded snake, Lycodon rufozonatus LC IUCN
- Red-banded odd-tooth snake, L. r. rufozonatus (MoE: NT)
- Sakishima odd-tooth snake, L. r. walli (endemic subspecies)
- Ruhstrat's wolf snake, Lycodon ruhstrati LC IUCN
- Lycodon multifasciatus LC IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Genus: Ptyas
- Ryukyu green snake, Ptyas semicarinatus LC IUCN (endemic)
- Sakishima green snake, Ptyas herminae LC IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Genus: Rhabdophis
- Tiger keelback, Rhabdophis tigrinus LC IUCN
- Genus: Elaphe
- Family: Elapidae
- Genus: Emydocephalus
- Ijima's sea snake, Emydocephalus ijimae LC IUCN (MoE: VU)
- Genus: Hydrophis
- Annulated sea snake, Hydrophis cyanocinctus LC IUCN
- Black-headed sea snake, Hydrophis melanocephalus DD IUCN
- Ornate reef sea snake, Hydrophis ornatus LC IUCN
- Ryukyu ornate sea snake, H. o. maresinensis
- Stokes's sea snake, Hydrophis stokesii LC IUCN
- Viperine sea snake, Hydrophis viperinus LC IUCN
- Yellow-bellied sea snake, Hydrophis platurus LC IUCN
- Genus: Laticauda
- Blue-banded sea krait, Laticauda laticaudata LC IUCN (MoE: VU)
- Black-banded sea krait, Laticauda semifasciata NT IUCN (MoE: VU)
- Colubrine sea krait, Laticauda colubrina LC IUCN
- Genus: Sinomicrurus
- Japanese coral snake, Sinomicrurus japonicus NT IUCN (endemic)
- Amami coral snake, S. j. japonicus (endemic subspecies) (MoE: NT)
- Okinawa coral snake, S. j. boettgeri (endemic subspecies) (MoE: NT)
- MacClelland's coral snake, Sinomicrurus macclellandi LC IUCN
- Iwasaki's coral snake, S. m. iwasakii (endemic subspecies) (MoE: VU)
- Japanese coral snake, Sinomicrurus japonicus NT IUCN (endemic)
- Genus: Emydocephalus
- Family: Natricidae
- Genus: Hebius
- Japanese keelback, Hebius vibakari LC IUCN
- Danjo keelback, H. v. danjoense (endemic subspecies) (MoE: DD)
- Pryer's keelback, Hebius pryeri LC IUCN (endemic)
- Yaeyama keelback, Hebius ishigakiense NT IUCN (endemic)
- Miyako keelback, Hebius concelarum EN IUCN (endemic) (MoE: EN)
- Japanese keelback, Hebius vibakari LC IUCN
- Genus: Opisthotropis
- Kikuzato's brook snake, Opisthotropis kikuzatoi CR IUCN (endemic) (MoE: CR)
- Genus: Hebius
- Family: Pareidae
- Genus: Pareas
- Iwasaki's snail-eater, Pareas iwasakii NT IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Genus: Pareas
- Family: Typhlopidae
- Genus: Indotyphlops braminus
- Brahminy blind snake, Indotyphlops braminus LC IUCN (introduced[5])
- Genus: Indotyphlops braminus
- Family: Viperidae
- Genus: Gloydius
- Genus: Ovophis
- Ryukyu island pitviper, Ovophis okinavensis LC IUCN (endemic)
- Genus: Protobothrops
- Sakishima habu, Protobothrops elegans LC IUCN (endemic)
- Habu, Protobothrops flavoviridis LC IUCN (endemic)
- Pointed-scaled pitviper, Protobothrops mucrosquamatus LC IUCN (introduced[5])
- Tokara habu, Protobothrops tokarensis VU IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Family: Xenodermidae
- Genus: Achalinus
- Amami old-scaled snake, Achalinus werneri NT IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Formosan odd-scaled snake, Achalinus formosanus LC IUCN
- Yaeyama odd-scaled snake, A. f. chigirai (endemic subspecies) (MoE: VU)
- Japanese odd-scaled snake, Achalinus spinalis LC IUCN
- Genus: Achalinus
Order: Testudines (turtles)
Superfamily: Chelonioidea (sea turtles)
- Family: Cheloniidae
- Genus: Caretta
- Loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta VU IUCN (MoE: EN)
- Genus: Chelonia
- Green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas EN IUCN (MoE: VU)
- Genus: Eretmochelys
- Hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata CR IUCN (MoE: EN)
- Genus: Lepidochelys
- Olive ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea VU IUCN
- Genus: Caretta
- Family: Dermochelyidae
- Genus: Dermochelys
- Leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea VU IUCN
- Genus: Dermochelys
Superfamily: Chelydroidea (snapping turtles)
- Family: Chelydridae
- Genus: Chelydra
- Snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina LC IUCN (introduced[5])
- Genus: Chelydra
Superfamily: Testudinoidea (pond turtles and Geoemydid turtles)
- Family: Emydidae
- Genus: Trachemys
- Yellow-bellied slider turtle, Trachemys scripta LC IUCN (introduced[5])
- Red-eared slider turtle, T. s. elegans (introduced[5])
- Yellow-bellied slider turtle, Trachemys scripta LC IUCN (introduced[5])
- Genus: Trachemys
- Family: Geoemydidae
- Genus: Cuora
- Yellow-margined box turtle, Cuora flavomarginata EN IUCN
- Ryukyu yellow-margined box turtle, C. f. evelynae (endemic subspecies) (MoE: VU)
- Yellow-margined box turtle, Cuora flavomarginata EN IUCN
- Genus: Geoemyda
- Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, Geoemyda japonica EN IUCN (endemic) (MoE: VU)
- Genus: Mauremys
- Japanese pond turtle, Mauremys japonica NT IUCN (endemic) (MoE: NT)
- Reeves' pond turtle, Mauremys reevesii EN IUCN (introduced[5])
- Yellow pond turtle, Mauremys mutica CR IUCN
- Asian yellow pond turtle, M. m. mutica
- Ryukyu yellow pond turtle, M. m. kami (endemic subspecies) (MoE: VU)
- Genus: Cuora
Superfamily: Trionychia (softshell turtles)
- Family: Trionychidae
- Genus: Pelodiscus
- Chinese softshell turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis VU IUCN (MoE: DD)
- Genus: Pelodiscus
Japanese names
The Japanese names for the taxa found in Japan have been collated and published by the Herpetological Society of Japan.[7]
See also
References
- 1 2 "IUCN Red List>Advanced Search>Taxonomy: Reptilia - Land Regions: Japan". IUCN. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- 1 2 環境省レッドリスト2020掲載種数表 [Ministry of the Environment Red List 2020: Table of Number of Species Listed] (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- 1 2 環境省レッドリスト2020 [Ministry of the Environment Red List 2020] (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ↑ レッドデータブック・レッドリスト [Red Data Books and Red Lists] (in Japanese). Ministry of the Environment. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Invasive Species of Japan: Reptiles". National Institute for Environmental Studies. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ↑ 岩国のシロヘビ [White Snakes of Iwakuni] (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ↑ 日本産爬虫両生類標準和名リスト [Standard Japanese Names for the Reptiles and Amphibians of Japan] (in Japanese). Herpetological Society of Japan. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.