![]() However, populations of this slightly odd looking creature have exploded over the decades and you may bump into one of these creatures in the Japanese Alps – especially Gunma, Nagano, Tochigi and Niigata prefectures – keep an eye out for this “living national treasure of the forest” whilst travelling in the mountains. The Kamoshika was hunted to near extinction until it became protected in the 1950’s. It is a sort of goat / antelope that is found in the mountains of mainland Honshu. The ‘Kamoshika’ is a Japanese Serow…still no idea. They are called “Nihonzaru” by the Japanese, which means literally means “Japan monkey”, but you will see them all year round in rural areas of the Japan mainland of Honshu…not always with snow though. With their bright red faces, furry bodies, love of relaxing in hot springs, snow monkeys are a favorite attraction in the town of Yudanaka in the middle of the Japanese Alps. The Japanese Macaque, or “snow monkey” is unique because it is the only primate living year around in cold, snowy conditions. You can see them all over Japan, but keep an eye out in Miyajima island for the white Tanuki scuttling around in the evenings – InsideJapan tip. Keep an eye for statues of them at temples and restaurants – often with oversized testicles! In reality, the Tanuki are omnivores that hibernate, unlike other canids that remain active all winter, and emit an extended, somewhat sad-sounding whine when communicating with other Tanuki. Resembling the American raccoon, the Japanese Tanuki, or “raccoon dog”, plays a prominent role in Japanese myths and folklore as a mischievous being who possesses shape shifting powers and the ability to pay for sake with money that later turns into worthless leaves. This is an animal that you may see at night time or in the daytime….squashed on the road. Here are a few more interesting beasts of the Land of the Rising Sun. As an archipelago of over 6000 islands, Japan is home to many exotic animals that evolved within nine different ecoregions ranging from temperate forests to subtropical rain forests to the pine forests of colder, northern Japanese islands. ![]() In fact, some of the most unique animals in the world can be found in Japan. We can’t resist some of those ‘Snow monkey’ pictures. They fly to great heights while carrying a bone and then drop it on a rock to crack it open to access the marrow inside.It’s Winter and there is lots of snow in Japan. Bearded vultures, or lammergeiers, love to feed on the marrow present inside bones.The kiang is the largest wild ass and is one of the inspirations for the unicorn.This has led to a decline in the population of several species, with the snow leopard being classified as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN. What makes matters worse is due to the small size of several of these animals, more than one needs to be killed to create usable clothing items. These include chinchillas, chirus, snow leopards, etc. ![]() ![]() Several creatures living in this habitat have been poached for their fur. ![]() For respiration – Due to the lack of oxygen at higher altitudes, animals like the yak have larger organs like hearts and lungs to absorb and retain air better.Īnimals living in these habitats are at risk from climate change, habitat fragmentation, and wildfires.For locomotion – Some animals, like the ibex and mountain goats, have hooves with a hard outer edge and a soft center, allowing them to navigate the treacherous terrain.For warmth – As most mountains have cold temperatures, several animals living in these biomes have developed thick fur.Here’s a list of some of the above animals living at some extreme altitudes: AnimalĪdaptations developed by species living in mountainous regions ![]()
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