Amami, Okinawa, Miyako, and Yaeyama Ryukyu Islands

the yonaguni monument, rock formation theorized submerged ruins

the south of watase s line recognized ecologists distinct subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion. flora , fauna of islands have in common taiwan, philippines, , southeast asia, , part of indomalaya ecozone.

the coral reefs among world wildlife fund s global 200 ecoregions. reefs endangered sedimentation , eutrophication, result agriculture fishing.

mammals endemic islands include amami rabbit, iriomote cat, ryukyu flying fox, ryukyu long-tailed giant rat, ryukyu mouse, , ryukyu shrew.

birds found in ryukyus include amami woodcock, izu thrush, japanese paradise flycatcher, narcissus flycatcher, okinawa rail (yanbaru kuina), lidth s jay, ryukyu kingfisher, ryukyu minivet, ryukyu robin, ryūkyū scops owl, extinct ryukyu wood pigeon, amami woodpecker , okinawa woodpecker.

approximately 1 half of amphibian species of islands endemic. endemic amphibians include sword-tail newt, anderson s crocodile newt, hyla hallowellii, holst s frog, otton frog, ishikawa s frog, ryukyu tip-nosed frog, namiye s frog, , kampira falls frog.

various species of snake known locally habu inhabit ryukyus, including trimeresurus elegans, trimeresurus flavoviridis, trimeresurus tokarensis, , ovophis okinavensis. other snakes native ryukyus achalinus werneri, achalinus formosanus, elaphe carinata, elaphe taeniura, cyclophiops semicarinatus, cyclophiops herminae, dinodon semicarinatum, dinodon rufozonatum, calamaria pfefferri, amphiesma pryeri, calliophis japonicus, laticauda semifasciata, , hydrophis ornatus.

lizards native islands include kishinoue s giant skink, kuroiwa s ground gecko, japalura polygonata, plestiodon stimpsonii, plestiodon marginatus, scincella boettgeri, scincella vandenburghi, ateuchosaurus pellopleurus, cryptoblepharus boutonii nigropunctatus, apeltonotus dorsalis, , takydromus toyamai.

subspecies of chinese box turtle , yellow pond turtle native islands, ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle.