3 Wildlife Native to Japan
2022
2/26
Japan is home to some interesting and sometimes cute creatures! Here are three remarkable wildlife that inhabit Japan and some interesting facts about them!
CONTENTS
Tanuki
Tanuki are canid raccoon dogs, and are native to Japan. Tanukis are similar to mainland raccoon dogs, but have shorter fur and a smaller stomach. Tanukis are nocturnal like racoons, but can be seen during the daytime as well. These cute creatures make growling noises and groans similar to cats. They also are able to climb trees in efforts to forge for food such as berries and fruits. There is a lot of folklore surrounding Tanukis. In Japanese literature, Tanukis are described as supernatural beings and often strange. Stories of Tanukis date back to the Nara period, sometimes even described as creatures that turn into humans and sing songs. Others describe Tanukis as being able to shapeshift and possess humans. Some examples of famous fictional Tanukis you may be familiar with include Tom Nook from Animal Crossing and Mario’s suit he wears that makes him into a tanuki and allows him to shapeshift and fly!
Japanese Giant Hornet
The Japanese Giant Hornet is the world’s largest hornet and is native to East Asia, but has become an invasive species and can more recently be found even overseas. These frightening insects can be found in forests and low mountains. Here, the Japanese giant hornets either digs or steals a nest from rodents underground. The Japanese giant hornets usually eat large insects, tree sap, or honey. More recently, the Japanese giant hornets have become coined by the media as “muder hornets,” based on their giant size of over two inches long and assumed danger, as they are recorded to kill 50 people a day in Asia. What makes these hornets more dangerous than any other is that they have mandibles resembling spiked shark fins that can slice up other insects and destroy a honeybee hive without haste. Because of how dangerous the muder hornets are, they are hunted down and exterminated in Asian countries like Japan. The murder hornet population has been very difficult to trac down considering that they fly up to 20 mph and their dens are thought to be hidden underground. These hornets thrive in Asia due to the hot temperatures in some Asain countries like the south part of Japan. They also keep their internal temperature up to 86 degrees so it is a possibility that they can be tracked using thermal detectors in order to exterminate them. These are definitely creatures to avoid!
Shika Deer
Sika deer, also called the Japanese deer or the spotted deer, is native to Japan and other areas of East Asia. They are also called “the bowing deer” in some parts of Japan, based on the way they bow their heads before they are fed. Sika deer used to be common in Vietnam and Russia, but are now only common throughout Japan, and in fact are overpopulated. Sika deer are one of the few species of deer that do not lose their adorable spots once they reach maturity. During the winter the sika deer’s fur gets thicker and darker to keep them warm. Sika deer live in wooded areas, although they can wander into more populated areas. Sika deer lifespans typically range from 12 to 25. These deer are god adapters, yet are prey to larger animals and often killed by humans for sport. With an estimated 3,080,000 sika deer left in Japan while they are endangered throughout much of the rest of the world. They truly are an animal of Japan now.
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