Prasiola japonica

No.19 Kawanori

Prasiola japonica is a species of freshwater seaweed called “Kawanori” in Japan. In Japanese, this name literally translates to “river seaweed.” It is bright green in color and grows up to 20 cm long and 4 cm wide. Found in Japan and China, it grows in rapid mountain streams attached to rocks. In Japan, it has historically been pressed, dried, and sold as food to be eaten broiled or pickled.

Alveopora japonica

No.31 Type of Scleractinian Coral

Alveopora japonica is species of colonial Scleractinian coral, an order known for their “stony” calcium carbonate skeletons. The polyps of this species are dark green and have twelve white-tipped tentacles. Each colony is less than 10 cm across and appears in an encrusting or hemispherical growth-form. Found along shallow rocky foreshores in Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, Alveopora japonica is one of the most dominant type of Scleractinia in the region. Recently, Alveopora japonica populations have been increasing along the southern coast of Korea as local kelp forests have been declining, a dynamic that may be influenced by rising sea temperatures.

Perophora japonica

No.36 Type of Colonial Sea Squirt

Perophora japonica is a species of marine invertebrate called a tunicate or “sea squirt.” Colonial in nature, this species consists of round, 4-6 mm long, yellowish-green zooids growing together along a branch-like structure called a stolon, which grows from a barrel-like body called a tunic. At the stolon’s end are yellow star-shaped zooids that can form their own colonies when dislodged. While native to Japan, Korea, and Russia, it has spread to the coasts of the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain, West Africa, and the west coast of North America, possibly in the hulls of commercial and recreational ships.

Coturnix japonica

No.11 Japanese Quail

Coturnix japonica is a economically and scientifically important quail that resides in East Asia. These quail have cinnamon-brown plumage and are relatively small in size, with wild adults reaching weights of about 100 grams. While they regularly inhabit Japan, Korea, China, India, and Russia, they have been known to migrate to southeast Asia, the northwest coast of Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Japanese quail are used worldwide as meat and egg-producing agricultural animals. In addition, its fully sequenced genome, quick maturation, small size, and developmental patterns make Coturnix japonica a model lab animal in genetics, immunology, developmental biology, and endocrinology studies.