National Institute for Environmental Studies Invasive Species of Japan Japanese | English
  1. Invasive Species of Japan >
  2. Reptiles >
  3. Protobothrops elegans

Protobothrops elegans

Basic information
Scientific name Protobothrops elegans

Click to magnify

サキシマハブ
Major synonym Trimeresurus elegans
Common names Sakisima habu
Higher taxon Viperidae, Ophidia (Serpentia), Squamata, Reptilia
Natural range Yaeyama Islands (Ishigakijima, Taketomijima, Kayamajima, Kohamajima, Kuroshima, Kamijishima, Shimojishima, and Iriomotejima Is.)
Habitat Crop field, forest, urban area.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Southern part of Okinawajima Is. Range in Japan
Origin Yaeyama Islands
Date 1976
Route Deliberate: A population kept for exhibition in zoo was theft and released.
Impact Predation, competition, hybridization, and biting on human.
Native organism(s) affected: Small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some invertebrates (predation). Snakes (competition). Protobothrops flavoviridis (hybiridization). The hybridization might not spread, but may still occur.
Regulation in Japan Keeping and transport of Viperidae without permission are prohibited in Japan.
Introduced range in other countries
Reference Notes
  • Ecol Soc Jpn (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijinshokan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Maenosono & Toda (2007) Distribution of amphibians and terrestrial reptiles in the Ryukyu Archipelago: A review of published records. Akamata. 18, 28-46 (in Jpn)
  • Ota et al. (2004) Feral populations of amphibians and reptiles in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Global Environ Res. 8(2), 133-143.
  • Sengoku et al. (eds) (1996) The Encyclopedia of Animals in Japan 5 Amphibians, Reptiles, Chondrichthyes. Heibonsha, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Terada (2011) The distribution, population density and controls of Protobothrops mucrosquamatus, Protobothrops elegans, Elaphe taeniura friesei, 3 snake species established on Okinawa Island. Bull Herpetol Soc Jpn. 2011(2), 161-167 (in Jpn)