Sightings of a world traveler: Fauna of Kagamino Park (鏡野公園) at Kochi University of Technology Kami Campus, Kochi Prefecture, Japan

To accompany the flora list for Kagamino Park (another blog post) I have started for this park I have put together a list of fauna observed in the park.These two blog posts represent a continuous record of observations in the park near my home in Japan.

Birds:
Barn Swallows don't nest in the park but on houses and sheds outside of the park. They frequently forage on campus.

Barn Swallow

European Tree Sparrows are frequent on campus in all seasons and frequently forage in the park with potential nesting pairs in the park.

House Sparrow

Japanese White Eyes were quite common in the park in the spring but later it was less common.

Japanese White Eye

Japanese Wagtails are more abundant in the agricultural land around the campus but only occasionally come to feed on the lawn in Kagamino Park.

Japanese Wagtail

Pale Thrush look very similar to American Robins but without the red breast. They are common during the winter months and early spring but I believe they migrate out of the area for the summer.

Pale Thrush

A few pairs of Blue Rock Thrush nest in the area near Kagamino Park, potentially on the rooftops of campus buildings) and after arriving in the spring these were a daily sight on campus and occasionally foraging in the park. The females are speckled and grey-brown and the males are blue with a robin red belly.

Blue Rock Thrush Female

Blue Rock Thrush Male

Eyebrowed Thrush were another apparently migratory species that were seen in the winter but not in the

Eyebrowed Thrush

Black-eared Kites are the most common bird of prey in this area and although no nests were seen in the park so far they do perch and fly over the park often.

Black-eared Kite

Oriental Turtle Doves are quite common in the park in all seasons and are a daily sight in the park.

Oriental Turtle Dove

Rock Doves (Feral Pigeon) are definitely abundant on campus and find shady roosts in the park trees on occasion or forage on the park lawn.

Carrion Crows are more abundant than Large-billed Crows in the park but both are fairly common.

Carrion Crow

A single Varied Tit was seen in the park along with the more abundant Japanese Tits (taking about the birds here sicko!)

Varied Tit

Japanese Tit

Asian Brown Flycatchers were only seen a few times in the park. Their dull brown colour makes them inconspicuous but they do have a pretty song.

Asian Brown Flycatcher

White-cheeked Starlings are quite common in all seasons in the park and surrounding agricultural areas.

White-cheeked Starling

Daurian Redstarts were seen only in the spring. These weren't abundant on campus but the males are a nice bright blue flash zipping through the trees although smaller than Blue Thrush. The females are redish brown.

Daurian Redstart Male

Daurian Redstart Female

Gray Herons were occasionally seen around the pond area or in the creeks and I imagine egrets might also occasionally come to the area to feed on small fish or frogs.

Gray Heron

Brown Shrikes were seen in the agricultural areas just outside of the park and likely go into the park area as well.

Brown Shrike

Oriental Greenfinches are occasional summer visitors to the agricultural areas in the area and sometimes in the hedge around the parking lot field of Kagamino Park.

Oriental Greenfinch

Brown-eared Bulbuls are one of the most common birds on campus and definitely the loudest. These birds don't sound very pretty and that is by far an under exaggeration since they sound horrible with crazy screeching noises.

Brown-eared Bulbul

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker are really tiny cute birds that I love to find in the park. They were there from spring and still seen in the summer so they are potentially nesting in the park as well.

Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker

Reptiles:
Japanese Rat Snakes (Elaphe climacophora) eat frogs and mammals and on rainy days they can be seen basking in the park.

Japanese Rat Snake (Elaphe climacophora)

Tiger Keelbacks (Rhabdophis tigrinus) are more abundant in the agricultural areas where they eat amphibians. These little guys have a neurotoxic venom although small rear fangs make a poor delivery system. They are also one of the few species of snakes that are both venomous AND poisonous. These guys are pretty wiry and quick to run away but if cornered they will flatten their head into a hood and try to look threatening.

Tiger Keelback (Rhabdophis tigrinus)

Japanese Grass Lizard (Takydromus tachydromoides) are the most common reptile in Kagamino park where they live around rocks, bases of trees and piles of cut grass.

Japanese Grass Lizard(Takydromus tachydromoides)

Amphibians:
Japanese Tree Frogs (Hyla japonica) are small cute frogs with green-brown bodies and a brown-black eye stripe. Flanks can be flecked with gold. They don't breed in the large pond in the park but they can be seen on rainy days or in the creeks.

Japanese Tree Frog (Hyla japonica)

American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) are an exotic species in Japan since they were brought here as a food resource. They are exotic all over the country and are the largest American Bullfrogs I have ever seen!! This species do breed in the big pond in Kagamino Park. The

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Schlegel's Green Tree Frogs (Rhacophorus schlegelii) don't breed in the park but I did see them foraging on rainy nights after the breeding season.

Schlegel's Green Tree Frog (Rhacophorus schlegelii)

Black-spotted Frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus) are fairly common in the area and are fairly common in the park

Black-spotted Frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus)

A Wrinkled Frog (Glandirana rugosa) was the first species of frog that I saw in the park by flipping over a block of wood in the early spring.

Wrinkled Frog (Glandirana rugosa)

Mammals:
Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus sp.) can be seen at night foraging in the park and roosting in the trees as they eat their prey. Some larger trees on campus do have potential hollow roosting sites in them.

Horseshoe Bats (Rhinolophus sp.)

Japanese Raccoon Dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides ssp. viverrinus) are found in the area and I am sure they can be seen in the park on occasion although no dens have been found.

Japanese Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides ssp. viverrinus)

A few small mammals also live on campus but I haven't gotten a good enough look to see what species they were. Possibly Smith's Vole or Japanese Field Mouse, which are species local to the area.

Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths):
I am sure there are many more butterfly and moth species that I couldn't find on campus since I have yet to do any light trapping for moths and a few butterflies escaped photographs. These species are just some species on campus.
Pogonopygia nigralbata ssp. nigralbata

Pogonopygia nigralbata ssp. nigralbata

Common Fivering (Ypthima argus)

Common Beak (Libythea lepita)

Neope goschkevitschii

Neope goschkevitschii

Potanthus flavus

Potanthus flavus

Kunugia undans is a large moth with a grey-pink caterpillar with blue hair that pops out in a defense response.

Kunugia undans

The caterpillars of Impatiens Hawk Moth (Theretra oldenlandiae) have many eye spots along their sides and a black spine with a white tip.

Impatiens Hawk Moth (Theretra oldenlandiae)

Swallowtails (Papilio machaon hippocrates) are brightly coloured caterpillars and grow up into large yellow butterflies. These are quite common in the park and feed on thistles and the other abundant wildflowers on campus. There are at least four species of swallowtails on campus. Three are mostly black in colour but the only one that sits still for even a moment is this species.

Swallowtail (Papilio machaon hippocrates)

There are a few species of Typical Blues in Tribe Polyommatini. Only one I managed to identify.

Typical Blues Tribe Polyommatini

Short-tailed Blue (Everes argiades) are quite commone on campus and can be found in the mowed lawn feeding on abundant clovers.

Short-tailed Blue (Everes argiades)

Swallowtail (Papilio protenor demetrius) is a large black swallowtail
Pidorus glaucopis is a moth with a red head and dark wings with white stripes
Japanese Oakblue (Arhopala japonica) has brown wings outer with bright blue inner wings.

Japanese Oakblue (Arhopala japonica)

Amata germana ssp. nigricauda

Japanese Coppers (Lycaena phlaeas daimio) are incredibly abundant butterflies in this region of Japan. They are gray and orange with many black spots. They feed on a lot of wildflowers including Erigerons and Asters.

Japanese Copper (Lycaena phlaeas daimio)

Dagger Moths (Acronicta) are really well camouflaged

Dagger Moths (Acronicta )

Indian Fritillary (Argyreus hyperbius)

Krananda latimarginaria is a types of geometer moth with angled wings.

Krananda latimarginaria

Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Aciagrion migratum is a small blue damselfly.

Aciagrion migratum

Atrocalopteryx atrata is a larger type of damselfly with dark wings and dark iridescent green body. They are quite common along the drainage ways in the countryside of Japan and in Kagamino Parks ditches as well.

Atrocalopteryx atrata

Orthetrum japonicum

Orthetrum japonicum

Orthetrum albistylum ssp. speciosum

Orthetrum albistylum ssp. speciosum

Crimson Marsh Glider (Trithemis aurora)

Crimson Marsh Glider (Trithemis aurora)

Asiagomphus melaenops

Asiagomphus melaenops

Meadowhawks Genus Sympetrum

Meadowhawks Genus Sympetrum

Pied Skimmer (Pseudothemis zonata)

White-Tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum albistylum)

Bees and Wasps:
Japanese Giant Hornet (Vespa mandarinia japonica)
Apis sp.
Hornet (Vespa sp.)

Sphex argentatus ssp. fumosus is a thread waisted wasp that is quite large and fully black in colour.
Furrow Bees (Halictus) live in the ground in the mowed lawn.
Polistes japonicus is a normal looking hornet.

Polistes japonicus

Ichneumonid Wasps (Family Ichneumonidae)

Chalybion japonicum is a large blue wasp.

Chalybion japonicum

Large Red-tailed Bumble Bee (Bombus lapidarius)
Genus Lasioglossum
Xyclopa appendiculata

Xyclopa appendiculata

Beetles:
My favorite by far is the Tamamushi (Chrysochroa fulgidissima), which is a large jewel beetle. It has a metallic green-blue carapace with copper racing stripes. The underside is brilliant green-copper iridescent metallic. I only found a dead one in the park so no brilliant photos of this species yet sadly.
Oriental Beetle (Exomala orientalis)

Oriental Beetle (Exomala orientalis)

Little Stag Beetle (Dorcus rectus) feeds on the sap of trees and can usually be seen at night.

Little Stag Beetle (Dorcus rectus)

Asian Lady Beetles (Harmonia axyridis) are black with red spots.

Seven-spotted Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)

Seven-spotted Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata)

Eusilpha japonica

Pheropsophus jessoensis

Genus Monolepta

Monolepta

Themus episcopalis

Cupreous Chafer (Anomala cuprea)

Hadda Beetles (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata) look like lady beetles but they are almost hairy looking.

Hadda Beetle (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata)

Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) are the most common species on campus and feed on many of the shrubs and vines.

Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica)

Pale and Green Leaf Chafers Genus Anomala

Plesiophthalmus nigrocyaneus

Leptura modicenotata

Leptura modicenotata

Paraglenea fortunei feeds on Boehmeria species that are abundant along the creeks and waterways in the park.

Paraglenea fortunei

Arachnids (Spiders):
Argiope amoena is a large garden orbweaver spider with yellow stripes.

Argiope amoena

Argyra Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge argyra)

Neoscona scylloides is a small green orbweaver spider.

Neoscona scylloides

Other orbweavers include various species with both thin or rounded abdomens.

Orbweaver

Entelegyne Spiders (Infraorder Entelegynae)

Moluscs:
Pupinella rufa is a small species of snail living on some rocky walls in the park.

Pupinella rufa

Channeled Applesnails (Pomacea canaliculata) area really abundant int he rice fields outside of the park and can be found in the creeks and waterways of the park and campus.

Channeled Applesnail (Pomacea canaliculata)

Meghimatium bilineatum is a large slug that I found under some wood debris in the park.

Meghimatium bilineatum

Helicoid Terrestrial Snails (Euhadra sp.) live on vegetation in the park.

Helicoid Terrestrial Snails (Euhadra sp.)

Other Insects and Invertebrates:
Chinese Red-headed Centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes ssp. mutilans)

Chinese Red-headed Centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes ssp. mutilans)

Water Striders (Aquarius)

Aquarius

Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)

Wood Cockroaches: Family Ectobiidae

Oriental Longheaded Locust (Acrida cinerea)

Migratory Locust (Locusta migratoria)
Gampsocleis

Gampsocleis

Praying Mantis (Tenodera)
Prionus insularis
Euricania c.f facialis
Riptortus

Riptortus

Episomus turritus

Riptortus pedestris

Sphedanolestes impressicollis is a large black assassin bug with white stripes on its legs.

Sphedanolestes impressicollis

Common Pill Woodlouse (Armadillidium vulgare)