Kishinoue’s giant skink
On the tour led by Mr Kobayashi of ‘Seabeans’ on Ishigaki Island, you can encounter not only wild birds but also reptiles. What I saw for the first time on this occasion was the ‘Kishinoue’s giant skink’, one of Japan’s largest lizards, measuring 40 cm in length. It is a species endemic to Japan, found exclusively in the Yaeyama Islands, and is designated as an endangered species. In particular, it appears to be preyed upon by the Indian peafowl, an invasive species commonly seen on Ishigaki Island. The individual I encountered this time was right on the road; as soon…
