Highlights

Exploring a Treasure Trove of Endemic Species: The Hunt for the Goniurosaurus kuroiwae kuroiwae and the Goniurosaurus kuroiwae toyamai.
The northern region of Okinawa Mainland, a land Herper has long admired, is particularly rich in endemic species and has even been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The amphibians and reptiles here boast a kaleidoscope of colors, from red, blue, and green frogs to yellow, green, and orange snakes, offering a wealth of exotic diversity. Our main targets for this expedition are the elusive Goniurosaurus kuroiwae, which has a limited distribution and low mobility, contributing to its high rarity. In fact, in February 2021, it was added to the CITES due to its rarity.
On Iheya Island, located in the northernmost part of Okinawa Prefecture, we'll observe the another variety of the gecko, a sub-species found nowhere else in the world. It's characterized by its pale peach-colored band patterns and plump, stout body, setting it apart from the other geckos found in Japan. In the southern region of Okinawa Mainland, we'll also encounter a population of the same species, which, due to its distinct coloration, is increasingly considered a separate species in recent years.