City:C/Town:T/
Village:V |
Wetland type
|
Biota
|
Habitat
|
Reason for selection |
| Hirara C |
Tidal flats,
Coral reefs,
Other wetlands |
Insects |
Ikema-
shitsugen |
With a rich variety of aquatic insects, this site
is noted for its valuable environment among the Miyako Islands.
Many aquatic insects have been observed here, including Ceriagrion
auranticum ryukyuanum, Cercion sexlineatum, Ictinogomphus pertinax,
Brachydiplax chalybea flavovittata, Tholymis tillarga, Limnogonus
fossarum, Neohydrocoptus subvittulus, Helochares abnormalis
and H. ohkurai. It is a natural pond providing habitat for
large insects, such as Cybister rugosus, C. tripunctatus orientalis
and Cybister sugillatus. |
| Crustaceans |
Ikemajima-shitsugen and neighboring coral reefs |
Ikemajima-shitsugen used to be a semi-closed inlet,
but turned into a freshwater pond after the mouth of the inlet was
closed for fishing port construction works. Since then, watergrass
proliferated, filling up most of the wetland, with freshwater area
remaining in the northwest area. It provides breeding grounds for
dragonflies and introduced fish such as tilapia and guppy, and feeding
and staging grounds for migrating birds including ducks and herons.
Many Cardisoma hirtipes also inhabit the marsh and surrounding
areas. Around the time of full moons between June and October, huge
flocks of Cardisoma hirtipes come down to the beach to release
zoea into the sea. Gravel tidal flat supports Uca tetragonon
(an RDB species). With coral reefs developed in the sea and white
sandy beaches on the island, an extensive area encompassing Ikema-jima
and its surrounding sea area is important. |
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