Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geographic patterns of endemism and speciation in amphibians and reptiles of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, with special reference to their paleogeographical implications

  • Special Feature
  • Published:
Researches on Population Ecology

Abstract

This paper analyzes the phylogeographical patterns of amphibian and reptile lineages distributed in the Ryukyu islands south of the Tokara Gap on the basis of relevant distributional data and phylogenetic hypotheses hitherto published. Results indicate the numerical dominance of highly relict lineages in the central Ryukyus, and the occurences of a few more or less relict lineages in the Miyako Group as well. On the other hand, most species and subspecies endemic to the Yaeyama Group or to the Yaeyama and Miyako Groups are considered to be direct consequences of vicariance with adjacent regions. Three major hypotheses regarding the Cenozoic paleogeography of the central and the southern Ryukyus are examined in the light of the present results and a modified hypothesis is proposed accordingly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnold, E. (1997) Interrelationships and evolution of the east Asian grass lizards, Takydromus (Squamata: Lacertidae).Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 119: 267–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brattstrom, B. H. (1964) Evolution of the pit vipers.Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History 13: 185–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, W. C. (1991) Lizards of the genus Emoia (Scincidae) with observations on their evolution and biogeography.Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences 15: 1–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou, W. -H. (1994) Geographic distribution: Rana psaltes (harpist frog).Herpetological Review 25: 75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cundall, D. (1981) Cranial osteology of the colubrid snake genus Opheodrys.Copeia 1981: 353–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darlington, P. J., Jr. (1957)Zoogeography: The geographic distribution of animals. John Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emerson, S. B. and D. Berrigan (1993) Systematics of southeast Asian ranids: Multiple origins of voicelessness in the subgenus Limnonectes (Fitzinger).Herpetologica 49: 22–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairbanks, R. G. (1989) A 17,000-year glacio-eustatic sea level record: influence of glacial melting rates on the Younger Dryas event and deep-ocean circulation.Nature 342: 637–642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frost, D. R. (ed.) (1985)Amphibian species of the world: A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golay, P., H. M. Smith, D. G. Broadley, J. R. Dixon, C. McCarthy, J. C. Rage, B. Schatti and M. Toriba (1993) Endoglyphs and other major venomous snakes of the world.A checklist. Azemiops S. A., Geneva, Switzerland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grismer, L. L. (1988) Phylogeny, taxonomy, classification, and biogeography of eublepharid geckos, pp. 369–469. R. Estes and G. Pregill (eds.) Phylogenetic relationships of the lizard families. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grismer, L. L., H. Ota and S. Tanaka (1994) Phylogeny, classification, and biogeography ofGoniurosaurus kuroiwae (Squamata: Eublepharidae) from the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, with description of a new subspecies.Zoological Science 11: 319–335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi, T. and M. Matsui (1988) Biochemical differentiation in Japanese newts, genus Cynops (Salamandridae).Zoological Science 5: 1121–1136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi, T., M. Matsui, T. Utsunomiya, S. Tanaka and H. Ota (1992) Allozymic variation in the newt Tylototriton andersoni from three islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago.Herpetologica 48: 178–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hikida, T. (1993) Phylogenetic relationships of the skinks of the genus Eumeces (Scincidae: Reptilia) from East Asia.Japanese Journal of Herpetology 15: 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hikida, T. and H. Ota (1997) Biogeography of reptiles in the subtropical East Asian islands, pp. 11–28. K. Y. Lue and T. -H. Chen (eds.)Proceedings of the symposium on the phylogeny, biogeography and conservation of fauna and flora of East Asian region. National Science Council, Taipei.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hikida, T., H. Ota, M. Kuramoto and M. Toyama (1989) Zoogeography of amphibians and reptiles in East Asia. pp. 278–281. M. Matsui, T. Hikida and R. C. Goris (eds.)Current herpetology in East Asia. Herpetological Society of Japan, Kyoto.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hikida, T., H. Ota and M. Toyama (1992) Herpetofauna of an encounter zone of Oriental and Palearctic elements: Amphibians and reptiles of the Tokara Group and adjacent islands in the northern Ryukyus, Japan.Biological Magazine Okinawa 30: 29–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inger, R. F. (1947) Preliminary survey of the amphibians of the Riukiu Islands.Fieldiana: Zoology 32: 297–352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inger, R. F. and H. Marx (1965) The systematics and evolution of the Oriental colubrid snakes of the genus Calamaria.Fieldiana: Zoology 49: 1–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iverson, J. B. and W. P. McCord (1994) Variation in East Asian turtles of the genusMauremys (Bataguridae: Testudines).Journal of Herpetology 28: 178–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kato, J., H. Ota and T. Hikida (1994) Biochemical systematics of the latiscutatus species-group of the genus Eumeces (Scincidae: Reptilia) from East Asian islands.Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 22: 491–500.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, M. (1996a) Quaternary paleogeography of the Ryukyu Arc.Journal of Geography 105: 259–285 (in Japanese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, M. (1996b) Paleogeography of the Ryukyu Arc.Chikyu Monthly 18: 488–494 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kizaki, K. (ed.) (1985)Geology of the Ryukyu Arc. Okinawa Times, Naha (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kizaki, K. and I. Oshiro (1977) Paleogeography of the Rytkyu [sic] Islands.Marine Science Monthly 9: 542–549 (in Japanese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kizaki, K. and I. Oshiro (1980) The origin of the Ryukyu Islands, pp. 8–37. K. Kizaki (ed.)Natural history of the Ryukyus. Tsukiji-shokan, Tokyo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Koba, K. (1973) The venomous snakes of Southeast Asia.Snake 5: 77–115 (in Japanese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Koba, K. and D. Kikukawa (1969) Notes on the taxonomic status of Trimeresurus tokarensis of the Tokara Islands.Bulletin of the Biogeographical Society of Japan 25: 1–8 (in Japanese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Koba, K., D. Kikukawa, T. Fukuda and K. Tanaka (1977) A taxonomic study of Calliophis japonicus (Serpentes: Elapidae) of the Nansei Islands, Japan.Bulletin of the Ginkyo College of Medical Technology 2: 7–30 (in Japanese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuramoto, M. (1979) Distribution and isolation in the anurans of the Ryukyu Islands.Japanese Journal of Herpetology 8: 8–21 (in Japanese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuramoto, M. (1985) A new frog (genusRana) from the Yaeyama Group of the Ryukyu Islands.Herpetologica 41: 150–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuramoto, M. (1987) Advertisement calls of two Taiwan microhylid frogs, Microhyla heymonsi and M. ornata.Zoological Science 4: 563–567.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuramoto, M. (1996) Distribution, pp. 415–455. H. Iwasawa and M. Kuramoto (eds.)Systematic Zoology: Amphibians I. Nakayama-Shoten, Tokyo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuramoto, M. and T. Utsunomiya (1981) Call structures in two frogs of the genus Rhacophorus from Taiwan, with special reference to the relationships of rhacophorids in Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands.Japanese Journal of Herpetology 9: 1–6 (in Japanese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuramoto, M. and C. -S. Wang (1987) A new rhacophorid treefrog from Taiwan, with comparisons to Chirixalus eiffingeri (Anura, Rhacophoridae).Copeia 1987: 931–942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maeda, N. and M. Matsui (1993)Frogs and toads of Japan, 3rd edn. Bun-ichi Sogo Shuppan, Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mainate, E. V. (1962) The relationships of five species of the Asiatic natricine snake genus Amphiesma.Proceedings of Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 114: 251–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsui, M. (1984) Morphometric variation analyses and revision of the Japanese toads (genus Bufo, Bufonidae.Contribution from the Biological Laboratory, Kyoto University 26: 209–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsui, M. (1994) A taxonomic study of the Rana narina complex, with description of three new species (Amphibia: Ranidae).Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 111: 385–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matsui, M. (1996)Natural history of the Amphibia. University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsui, M. and T. Utsunomiya (1983) Mating call characteristics of the frogs of the subgenus Babina with reference to their relationship with Rana adenopleura.Journal of Herpetology 17: 32–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCord, W. P. and J. B. Iverson (1991) A new box turtle of the genus Cuora (Testudines: Emydidae) with taxonomic notes and a key to the species.Herpetologica 47: 407–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moritz, C., T. J. Case, D. T. Bolger and S. Donnellan (1993) Genetic diversity and the history of Pacific island house geckos (Hemidactylus and Lepidodactylus).Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 48: 113–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakada, M., N. Yonekura and K. Lambeck (1991) Late Pleistocene and Holocene sea-level changes in Japan: Implications for tectonic histories and mantle rheology.Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology. Palaeoecology 85: 107–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura, K. and S. -I. Uéno (1963)Japanese reptiles and amphibians in colour. Hoikusha, Osaka (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nei, M. (1972) Genetic distance between populations.American Naturalist 106: 283–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nishioka, M. and M. Sumida (1990) Differentiation of Rana limnocharis and two allied species elucidated by electrophoretic analyses.Science Report from the Laboratory for Amphibian Biology, Hiroshima University 10: 125–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishioka, M., M. Sumida, S. Ohta and H. Suzuki (1987a) Speciation of three allied genera,Buergeria, Rhacophorus and Polypedates, elucidated by the method of electrophoretic analyses.Science Report from the Laboratory for Amphibian Biology, Hiroshima University 9: 53–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishioka, M., M. Sumida, H. Ueda and Z. Wu (1990a) Genetic relationships among 13 Bufo species and subspecies elucidated by the method of electrophoretic analyses.Science Report from the Laboratory for Amphibian Biology, Hiroshima University 10: 53–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nitani, H. (1972) Beginning of the Kuroshio. pp. 129–163. H. Stommel and K. Yoshida (eds.)Kuroshio, its physical aspects. University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education (ed.) (1985)A survey report of the Pinzaabu Cave, Miyakojima Island. Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education, Naha (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H. (1982) Notes on a specimen of Miyara’s dwarf snake (Calamaria pavimentata miyarai) newly collected, and on some of the external characters of this subspecies.Snake 14: 40–43 (in Japanese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H. (1988) Taxonomic notes on Lycodon ruhstrati (Colubridae: Ophidia) from East Asia.Journal of Taiwan Museum 41: 85–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H. (1991a) Taxonomic redefinition of Japalura swinhonis Günther (Agamidae: Squamata), with a description of a new subspecies of J. polygonata from Taiwan.Herpetologica 47: 280–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H. (1991b) Systematics and biogeography of terrestrial reptiles of Taiwan, pp. 47–112. Y.-S. Lin and K.-H. Chang (eds.)Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Wildlife Conservation, ROC. Council of Agriculture, Taipei.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H. (1994) Biogeographical characteristics of terrestrial vertebrates of the Ryukyu Archioelago. pp. 460–464. Anonymous (ed.)In search of origins of Okinawan culture. Bunshin-insatsu, Naha (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H. (1997a) Amphibians and reptiles, pp. 109–128. S. Ikehara and Y. Kato (eds.)Introduction to nature and its conservation in Okinawa. Tsukiji-shokan, Tokyo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H. (1997b) Historical biogeographical implications in the variation and diversity of amphibians and reptiles in Taiwan, pp. 75–86. K. Y. Lue and T. -H. Chen (eds.)Proceedings of the symposium on the phylogeny, biogeography and conservation of fauna and flora of East Asian region. National Science Council, Taipei.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H. and Y. Hokama (1996) Discovery of a live Calamaria pavimentata miyarai (Squamata: Colubridae), a subspecies endemic to Yonagunijima Island of the Yaeyama Group, Ryukyu Archipelago.Akamata 13: 10–12 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H. and S. Iwanaga (1997) A systematic review of the snakes allied to Amphiesma pryeri (Boulenger) (Squamata: Colubridae) in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan.Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 121: 339–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H. and M. Toyama (1989) Taxonomic re-definition of Achalinus formosanus Boulenger (Xenoderminae: Colubridae: Ophidia), with description of a new subspecies.Copeia 1989: 597–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H., R. I. Crombie, K. -Y. Lue and S. -H. Chen (1988) A record of Gekko hokouensis (Reptilia: Sauria) from Lanyu Island, Taiwan, with notes on its variation.Journal of Taiwan Museum 41: 7–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H., N. Sakaguchi, S. Ikehara and T. Hikida (1993) The herpetofauna of the Senkaku Group, Ryukyu Archipelago.Pacific Science 47: 248–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H., M. Toyama, Y. Chigira and T. Hikida (1994) Systematics, biogeography and conservation of the herpetofauna of the Tokara Group, Ryukyu Archipelago: New data and review of recent publications.WWF Japan Science Report 2: 163–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H., M. Shiroma and T. Hikida (1995) Geographic variation in the endemic Ryukyu green snake Cyclophiops semicarinatus (Serpentes: Colubridae).Journal of Herpetology 29: 44–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H., J. -T. Lin, T. Hirata and S. -L. Chen (1997) Systematic review of colubrid snakes of the genus Pareas in the East Asian islands.Journal of Herpetology 31: 79–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ota, H., H. Miyaguni and T. Hikida (1998) Geographic variation in the endemic skink, Ateuchosaurus pellopleurus (Reptilia: Squamata), from the Ryukyus Archipelago, Japan.Journal of Herpetology 32 (in press).

  • Ouboter, P. E. (1986) A revision of the genus Scincella (Reptilia: Sauria: Scincidae) of Asia, with some notes on its evolution.Zoologische Verhandeln 229: 1–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riehl, C. J., J.T. Lell and L. R. Maxon (1995) Relationships among Palearctic Hyla: Insight from immunology.Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 23: 245–249.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, K. -D. (1996)A monograph of the colubrid snakes of the genus Elaphe Fitzinger. Koeltz Scientific Books, Havlickuv Brod, Czech Republic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sengoku, S. (ed.) (1979)Amphibians and reptiles in color. Ienohikari-kyokai, Tokyo (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Seto, T., T. Utsunomiya and Y. Utsunomiya (1984) Interpopulation variation of the C-banded karyotypes in Rana ishikawae (Stejneger) from Okinawa-jima and Amami-oshima in the Ryukyu Islands.Japanese Journal of Herpetology 10: 67–72 (in Japanese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka, T., M. Matsui and O. Takenaka (1996) Phylogenetic relationships of Japanese brown frogs (Rana: Ranidae) assessed by mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences.Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 24: 299–307.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka-Ueno, T., M. Matsui, S. -L. Chen, O. Takenaka and H. Ota (1998) Phylogenetic relationships of brown frogs from Taiwan and Japan assessed by mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences (Rana: Ranidae).Zoological Science 15: 283–288.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toda, M., M. Nishida, M. Matsui, G.-F. Wu and H. Ota (1997a) Allozyme variation among East Asian populations of the Indian rice frog, Rana limnocharis (Amphibia: Anura).Biochemical Systematic and Ecology 25: 143–159.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toda, M., T. Hikida and H. Ota (1997b) Genetic variation among insular populations of Gekko hokouensis (Reptilia: Squamata) near the northeastern borders of the Oriental and Palearctic zoogeographic regions in the northern Ryukyus, Japan.Zoological Science 14: 859–867.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toda, M., M. Nishida, M. Matsui, K.-Y. Lue and H. Ota (1998) Genetic variation in the Indian rice frog, Rana limnocharis (Amphibia: Anura) in Taiwan, as revealed by allozyme data.Herpetologica 54: 73–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toriba, M. (1990) Karyotypes of some species of Japanese colubrid snakes, pp. 255–259. E. Olmo (ed.)Cytogenetics of amphibians and reptiles. Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toyama, M. and H. Ota (1991) Amphibians and reptiles of the Ryukyu Islands, pp. 233–254. World Wildlife Fund, Japan (ed.)Study of essential factors for preservation of wildlife in Nansei Islands. Japan Environmental Agency, Tokyo (in Japanese with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ujiié, H. (1990) Geological history of the Ryukyu Island Arc. pp. 251–255. H. Ujiié (ed.)Nature of Okinawa; Geomorphology and geology. Hirugisha, Naha (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ujiié, H. and T. Nakamura (1996) Temporary change of flowing route of the Kuroshio Current into the Ryukyu Trough since the latest glacier period.Chikyu Monthly 18: 524–530 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ujiié, H., Y. Tanaka and T. Ono (1991) Late quaternary paleoceanographic record from the middle Ryukyu Trench slope, northwest Pacific.Marine Micropaleontology 18: 115–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkinson, J. A., M. Matsui and T. Terachi (1996) Geographic variation in a Japanese tree frog (Rhacophorus arboreus) revealed by PCR-aided restriction site analysis of mtDNA.Journal of Herpetology 30: 418–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yasukawa, Y., H. Ota and T. Hikida (1992) Taxonomic re-evaluation of the two subspecies ofGeoemyda spengleri (Gmelin, 1789) (Reptilia: Emydidae).Japanese Journal of Herpetology 14: 143–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yasukawa, Y., H. Ota and J. B. Iverson (1996) Geographic variation and sexual size dimorphism inMauremys mutica (Cantor, 1842) (Reptilia: Bataguridae), with description of a new subspecies from the southern Ryukyus, Japan.Zoological Science 13: 303–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, E.-M. and K. Adler (1993)Herpetology of China. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Oxford, Ohio.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, 903-0213, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan

    Hidetoshi Ota

Authors
  1. Hidetoshi Ota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hidetoshi Ota.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ota, H. Geographic patterns of endemism and speciation in amphibians and reptiles of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, with special reference to their paleogeographical implications. Res Popul Ecol 40, 189–204 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02763404

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02763404

Key words

Search

Navigation