Wildlife of Hachijojima Island
Turdus celaenops
Turdus celaenops is a Turdine bird designated as a natural treasure of Japan. In Hachijojima island, it is called " Kokkome," and can also be seen in the town. You can see a lot in the Hachijyo Botanical Garden ( Hachijyo Visiter Center). It is similar to Turdus chrysolaus, but the male has a black head. There is a crealy defined border between the head and the reddish-brown color of the chest. The head is not black in the female.
JRDB( Ministry of the Environment Red Data Book), Vulnerable(VU)
Mosukemisosazai(Troglodytes troglodytes mosukei)
The winter wren seen on this island is a variant of mosukei. The total length is about a little over 10 cm( 4 inches ), it is a small , pretty bird. The color of the body is deeper than the winter wren. White patches of the abdomen and dark brown horizontal spots are apparent. At the river on the southern side of Mt.Mihara it is chirps with a variety of patterns of crying barks. It is a resident bird seen throughout the year.
JRDB( Ministry of the Environment Red Data Book), Endangered(EN)
Tanekomadori（kind of Japanese robin）
Tanekomadori is also a resident bird that can be seen throughout the year on the island. A variant of the winter wren, it differs in that there are no black, narrow bands at the boundary between the upper chest and the lower chest. You can see it in the dense laurel woodlands near rivers and many valleys in Mt. Mihara.
JRDB( Ministry of the Environment Red Data Book), Vulnerable(VU)
Parus varius owtoni
The variant of varied tit distributed in the southern part of Izu Islands such as Hachijojima Island, Miyakejima Island, Mikurajima Island. It is the most significant type among the varied tit fellows, The beak is also thick and substantial. Compared to the varied tit, the face from the forehead, the head from the top of the head, the belly from the chest have a deep orange-brown color. On Hachijojima Island, it is a resident bird that you can see all year round in the mountain area. It is not shay so that if you are lucky, you can see it from very close distance.
JRDB( Ministry of the Environment Red Data Book), Vulnerable(VU)
Japanese Flying Fish
In spring, huge shoals of Japanese flying fish (Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus japonicus) come to the Izu Islands to spawn. In Hachijojima Island, where the largest hauls of Japanese flying fish are caught, islanders have long been aware of the fish and refer to their arrival, signifying the oncoming of spring, as hachijo harutobi (literally, “Hachijo spring flight”). Capable of reaching more than 50 centimeters (19.7 inches) in length, the Japanese flying fish is known as the largest type of flying fish in the world. Powerful enough to launch itself into the air, the flying fish is generally muscular and has less fat, making its sashimi fresh and exquisite.
Yuuzen Chaetodon daedalma – Wrought Iron Butteflyfish
It is a fish living in a warm regional seas. In the ocean, they make large schools in fast flowing water of about 10 meters (33 feet) deep. The body length is about 15 cm(6 inches), the color of the body is dark, and it looks plain at first glance, but there are a lot of tiny white spots on the body and a yellowish color at the back end of the tail fin. That is the characteristic of Yuzen. "Yuzen" is named after the Japanese tradition of Yuzen Dye. it is a favorite aquarium fish worldwide. Because it is not so afraid of divers, when you go scuba diving you may be able to see them.
http://www.hachijo.gr.jp/39rhf0e/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/anettai_h26_low.pdf（外部サイト）
Pygmy Date Palm
The pygmy date palm (also referred to as robe or, in Japanese, shinno yashi) is an evergreen shrub, used decoratively in the form of cut leaves or as potted plants. Its soft green leaves (pinnate compound leaves) that droop from its straight trunk give the palm an elegant appearance, making it a popular ornamental plant. Almost all pygmy date palms grown in Japan are grown in Hachijojima Island. Originally from the Indochina Peninsula, a pair of female and male trees was first brought to Hachijojima Island in 1916. Although import of the tree was temporarily interrupted during World War II, floriculture revived during the post-war reconstruction. Today, Hachijojima Island is one of the leading cultivators of the pygmy date palm in the world.
Bird of Paradise
Belonging to the Strelitziaceae family, Bird of Paradise (so named for the shape of its flowers) has long, graceful stems that grow from a base of leaves. Consisting of five species found mostly in South Africa, the plant originated from the Cape of Good Hope. It is also the designated village flower and can be seen at the Hachijo Botanical Park.
Hegoshida (Hego Forest)
Hego is a family of ferns. It is a woody fern that has an upright sturdy stem, and it grows like a tree. The big ones can reach up to 7 to 8 meters (23 to 26 feet) in height in the wild. Hego's trunk keeps water retentivity by covering the periphery of the stem with indeterminate roots so that it does not dry the stem. Hachijojima Island is the place where the northernmost Hego grows in Japan, and Mt. Mihara 's Okawa River and upstream on the Kamogawa River. These are designated as national natural treasures.
Freesia, Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, and Other Tropical Flowers
Many tropical flowers bloom in Hachijojima Island. In spring, freesia blooms and the Freesia Festival is held. In summer, bright red hibiscus flowers are in full bloom. During the flowering season, you can even see the beautiful hibiscus flowers from your car as you drive through Hachijojima Island. Hachijo Botanical Park has more than hundred kinds of flowering trees (such as hibiscus and bougainvillea), ornamental plants (such as palm trees and traveler's palms), and fruit trees (such as papaya and mango trees).
https://www.tama-100.or.jp/cmsfiles/contents/0000000/395/11_hatijyou.pdf（外部サイト）
お問い合わせ
このページの担当は自然環境部 緑環境課 自然公園計画担当です。
Related link
Hachijojima Island
- Features of Hachijojima Island
- History of Hachijojima Island
- Wildlife of Hachijojima Island
- Sightseeing on Hachijojima Island
- Accessing Hachijojima Island