Ryukyu Arc Riverside
Welcome to a place of nature and tranquility.
The Ryukyu Arc is the stretch of islands from Kagoshima’s Amami Islands to Okinawa, and on to the Yaeyama Islands. The natural environments of the forests and estuaries have been replicated in a 4-meter-wide tank that features Okinawa’s rare freshwater fish.
Rare creatures of Okinawa
Many rare creatures can be encountered in the watersides of Okinawa. Species of gobies such as Sicyopus zosterophorus inhabit the upper reaches of rivers. The extremely rare golden tank goby inhabits the lower reaches of rivers. You can also encounter the Ryukyu black-breasted leaf turtle, a prefectural designated Natural Monument, and recognized as an endangered species by the Ministry of the Environment. There is also the Ryukyu ground gecko, another prefectural designated Natural Monument. There are many endangered terrestrial snail species including Nesiohelix omphalina bipyramidalis and Nesiohelix omphalina omphalina and Satsuma amanoi. They are listed as critically endangered in the Okinawa Prefecture Red Data Book, but they can still be seen in Okinawa.
| Water tank capasity | 1.36m3 |
|---|---|
| Exhibited species | Apporoximately 20 |
The above information is as of January 2024.
Let’s think about Okinawa’s natural environment
The information panels beside the tank give the opportunity to learn and think about environmental concerns.
ake this opportunity to discover more about important issues such as ocean trash, the damage done by invasive species, and how to protect the endemic species of the Nansei Islands and the Yanbaru region of northern Okinawa.
