Category Archives: Animalia

The word “animal” comes from the Latin word animal (meaning with soul, from anima, soul). The biological definition of the word refers to all members of the Kingdom Animalia, encompassing creatures ranging from insects to humans.

Fairy Pitta

by S.Kajikiyo Introduction There are wonderful natures in Kochi and many various forms of life. Among of those organism, Fairy Pitta is valuable animal. Because the population is very small and habitat is limited, it’s difficult to see it. Description … Continue reading

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Fairy Pitta

by A. Masuda Introduction The number of animals on the verge of extermination in recent years has increased though it is Kochi Prefecture enclosed by a lot of nature. The seriousness especially has been that the number of livings of … Continue reading

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Akame

by R Yamamoto Introduction The “Master of Shimanto river” is an another name of “Akame”. Its scientific name is Lates japonicas. Description & Taxonomy First,“Akame” is 1m long. Secondly, they are named “akame” in Japanese which means “red eye.” This … Continue reading

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A natural monument of Kochi Prefecture:Tosakingyo

by S. Takahashi Introduction Nishiki, Tosa (Tosa Kyn) is a natural monument of Kochi. It was bred around Kochi-city, Kochi, and It was old, and the history has been already bred in the Edo era. However, It was endangered by … Continue reading

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Oncorhynchus masou

by M. Hattori Introduction Oncorhynchus keta have various lifestyles. They are born in the river and live off the coast. After that they go back to the river they born. We can see them sometimes but they have different form and … Continue reading

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The Montane brown frog (Rana ornativentris)

by Y. Kikuchi Rana ornativentris is scientific name. It means “frogs that have pattern on belly”. The common Japanese name for this species is the Yamaakagaeru. It means “red mountain frogs”. In Japanese, “red” means “brown” at times. And the … Continue reading

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Tsubame: Hirundo rustica

Everybody can see some very pretty birds at the beginning of spring in Japan . These birds are swallow . Scientific name of swallow is Hirundo rustica . The common Japanese name for this species is Tsubame and the old … Continue reading

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Bata: Orthoptera Caelifera

Locust is a general term for nimalia Arthropoda Insecta Orthoptera Caelifera. In the family along with Pyrgomorphidae Acrididae Tetrigidae and so. They hop along because their hind legs are well developed and they have ala. The front ala is thin … Continue reading

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Ginbuna: Carassius langsdorfii

Carassius langsdorfii is a fresh water fish which grows to about 30 centimeters in 4 to 5 years. Carassius langsdorfii belongs Carassius, Carassius of Cyprinidae, it is belongs Cypriniformes, Cypriniformes of Osteichthyes. Almost all Japanese people called them “Ginbuna”, few … Continue reading

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Akame: Lates japonicus

There are different Japanese names for this species: Mehikari in Tokusima, Minouo in Kochi, Maruka in Miyazaki , and Kawanube in Shibusi bay, located southern of Kyushu in Japan. The mature fish sizes are about 1m over and body colors … Continue reading

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Tonbi: Milvus migrans

The Black Kite’s Japanese name is Tobi and the scientific name is Milvus migrans. They are birds which are migratory birds or resident birds. They are raptors and Accipitrida . So they are bigger than almost all other raptor species. … Continue reading

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Tanuki: Nyctereutes procyonoides

Since the old days, Japanese people have had friendly feelings toward tanuki, the raccoon dog. Its taxonomy is raccoon dog genus, dog family and scientific name is Nyctereutes procyonoides. It length is 50~60cm,weight is 3~10kg and life is 3~5years. It distribution … Continue reading

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Ayu: Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis

In summer, if you go to upper reaches of a river, you may see many anglers who have very long fishing rods. Probably, they are Ayu fishing. Ayu is famous in Japan. Most Japanese know Ayu live clean rivers at … Continue reading

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Ayu: Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis

The Japanese had the relations that were close to the sea and river from old days and ate various fish. It is a fish called Ayu that popularity in particular is high in that. Ayu is the fish of representative … Continue reading

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Tosaken: Kochi’s Mastiff

Fighting dogs are used dog fighting game as one of recreation of people. In Japan, the recreation is held in Kochi and Akita. The dog which is used dog fighting game is mainly Mastiff species. But the past, the dog … Continue reading

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Amenbo: Gerridae

Gerridae Aquarius paludum paludum, which have long legs for living a life on the water, includes Hemiotera Gerridae. In Japanese, the name is Amenbo but there are many kinds elsewhere, and it is classified in different ways. The appearance is … Continue reading

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Nihonkanoshika: Capricornis crispus

Nihonnkamoshika is a kind of kamoshika. It is a endemic species in Japan. The scientific name is Capricornis crispus. Nihonnkamoshika is Animalia Chordata Vertebrata Mammalia Cetartiodactyla Bovidae Caprinae Rupicaprini Capricomis C.crispus. Kamashika are classified in the ten species. It is … Continue reading

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Inoshishi: Wild Boar

Wild boar’s scientific name is Sus scrofa. The wild boar is an animal classified into the wild boar family wild boar belonging. Wild boar’s nose is a very sensitive, nervous animal.The wild boar has subspecies of about 30 kinds in … Continue reading

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Hirame: Japanese flatfish

The Japanese flatfish, or Olive flounder, is a kind of the fish that belongs to the large tooth flounder suborder of the flatfish family. Its scientific name is Paralichthys olivaceus. The two eyes show it is lying on its right … Continue reading

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Hato: Pigeon

The birds have the scientific name Columbidae. Columbidae is called “Pigeon” in English, and it is called “Hato” in Japanese. There are a variety of views about origin of the Japanese name. Many people support the Japanese name origin for … Continue reading

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Jimbeizame: Whale Shark

There are so many sea animals on Earth, for example, fishes and mammal. Rhincodon typus is the biggest of fishes on earth. It is called a Whale shark in English. It is a most body length of about 13.7m and … Continue reading

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Yairyocho: the Fairy Pitta

The Japanese name is yairotyo, in English it is Fairy Pitta, and scientific name is Pitta nympha. The body length is 18cm,the wing length is 118~227mm. The whole body is covered with feathers which are plural colors, and the many … Continue reading

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Kawauso: River Otter

The scientific name of the locally extinct otter is Lutra lutra whiteleyi. Taxonomy is Animalia, Chordata,Vertebrata, Mammalia, Carnivora. It inhabits Australia, waterside and the sea of a whole world except New Zealand. It is good at swimming and adapts myself … Continue reading

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Skipjack Tuna

Skipjack tuna is the English name. Japanese name is katuo. And scientific name is Katsuwonus pelamis. And there are seasonal Japanese namea, that for example is modorigatuo and kudarigatuo. The Skipjack tuna is designated as Kochi prefecture’s fish. Skipjack tuna … Continue reading

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Medaka

Medaka are very small fish that is smaller than 4cm, and the name comes from the big eye that protrudes from the top of the head. The scientific name is “Oryzias latipes”, and the color is brownish gray in wild … Continue reading

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