Japanese Eelgrass

Japanese Eelgrass
English Common Name
Japanese Eelgrass
Scientific name
Zostera japonica
Taxonomy
Order: Alismatales, Family: Potamogetonaceae
Size
4 cm – 30 cm (height of leaves)
Species Distribution
In Okinawa prefecture, Iriomote, Ishigaki, Miyako and Okinawa Islands. It expands to Amamioshima, Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku of Japan, Tanegashima, Sakhalin and the west coast of North America.
Okinawan Common Name
Jun-gusa (general term for seagrass)
Okinawa Red List of Threatened Species:Vulnerable
The species is found in shallow water that has sandy bottoms. In Okinawa, it can be found only in limited areas. Drastic population decrease due to landfill along coasts or pollution in the ocean area is a concern.

Updated February 2019

back to "Movies of Okinawa creatures" page