Category Archives: Field Guide

Natural History of Kochi Prefecture

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

Posted in Animalia, Birds, Field Guide | Tagged | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Animalia, Birds, Field Guide | Tagged | 1 Comment

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

Posted in Animalia, Field Guide, Fish | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Animalia, Field Guide, Fish | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Animalia, Field Guide, Fish | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Amphibians, Animalia, Field Guide | 1 Comment

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

Posted in Animalia, Birds, Field Guide | 1 Comment

Eringi: Pleurotus eryngii

Eringi is a kind of mushroom. It is a relatively new kind of mushroom. It is famous cooking ingredient Also, mushroom is used as medicine. It is used in Chinese medicine mainly. However, there is the bad aspect by human. It … Continue reading

Posted in Field Guide, Fungi | 3 Comments

Kombu: kelp

Kombu is a kind of marine algae. Marine algae have many many species, only a few of which are eaten. Of those, Kombu is the most popular in Japan. Also it is used for medical cure. Kombu is about 13 … Continue reading

Posted in Field Guide, Non-Seed, Plantae | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Animalia, Arthropods, Field Guide | Tagged | 9 Comments

Tsugasarunokosikake: Fomitopsis pinicoia

This bracket mushroom is said to look like a stool for a monkey is hard and woody and they grow from the trunk of a tree or large shrub. It is a member of the “polypore,” or bracket mushroom group. … Continue reading

Posted in Field Guide, Fungi | Tagged , | 2 Comments

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

Posted in Animalia, Field Guide, Fish | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Asakusanori: Porphyra tenera Kjellman

Asakusanori is Japanese name and it is called Amanori.This seaweed was harvested and processed in Asakusa early in the Edo period,it is the origin of Japanese name.This seaweed’s scientific name is Porphyra tenera Kjellman. Asakusanori is Red seaweed, and a … Continue reading

Posted in Field Guide, Non-Seed, Plantae | Tagged | 5 Comments

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

Posted in Animalia, Field Guide, Fish | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

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

Posted in Animalia, Birds, Field Guide | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Seiyou tanpopo: Taraxacum officinale

You can say dandelions are truly familiar plant and see them almost everyday from spring to autumn. Taraxacum officinale, one of dandelions, belonging to the chrysanthemum family are a native European plant and have become a naturalized Japanese plant. They … Continue reading

Posted in Field Guide, Plantae, Seed Bearing | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Enoki: Flammulina velutipes

Please picture the Enoki mushroom. You maybe picture a white mushroom with a slender body because that’s what they look like at the store. The enoki mushroom is different from other mushroom. But if you think that enoki sold in … Continue reading

Posted in Field Guide, Fungi | Tagged | 4 Comments

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

Posted in Animalia, Field Guide, Mammals | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

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

Posted in Animalia, Field Guide, Fish | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

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

Posted in Animalia, Field Guide, Fish | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Momiji: Acer palmatum

There are many scenes only in Japan having the four seasons, for example, mountains. In spring, colorful flower the bloome, green leaves sprout and photosynthesize by sunlight in summer, then change of leaves in autumn. The state is colored leaves … Continue reading

Posted in Field Guide, Plantae, Seed Bearing | Tagged , | 14 Comments

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

Posted in Animalia, Field Guide, Mammals | Tagged , | 21 Comments

Shiemeji: Lyophyllum Shimeji

Shimeji is shaped like mushroom. It has an umbrella and a handle. Shimeji is a general term of mushroom of small to medium size. Mainly, Shimeji is classified. Lyophyllum Shimeji, although it is sometimes classified mushroom of Tricholomataceae. Shimeji are … Continue reading

Posted in Field Guide, Fungi | Tagged | 2 Comments

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

Posted in Animalia, Arthropods, Field Guide | Tagged | 8 Comments

Tengutake: Amanita pantherina

Tengutake(Scientific name is Amanita pantherina) is a kind of toadstool. Its body is about 20~30 cm and color is white. It has a brown cap and there are many white grains on the surface of cap. Tengutake belongs to the … Continue reading

Posted in Field Guide, Fungi | Tagged , | 7 Comments