5. Hitomi Asato
Okinawa Churashima Foundation RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Research on marine organisms

Research staff profile

hitomi asato

Hitomi Asato

Area of
expertise		 Animal Ecology, Conservation biology
Research
content		 Life-history of reptiles, Field ecology and conservation of reptiles in Ryukyu Archipelago

Background

  • 2025: Research Scientist at Zoological lab, Okinawa Churashima Foundation Research Institute
  • 2021: M. Sc. in Science, University of the Ryukyus
  • 2019: B. Sc. in Science, University of the Ryukyus

Research papers, publications

  • Asato H, Toda M. 2025. Precocious maturation and semi-multivoltine lifecycle in a subtropical grass lizard, Takydromus toyamai. Current Zoology 71: 184–195.
  • Morikawa A, Asato H, Kubo G. 2024. A field observation of predations on a road-killed Microhyla okinavensis and an egg of a lizard by Lycodon rufozonatus walli. Akamata 33: 31–36. (in Japanese)
  • Yamamoto T, Asato H, Sasai T, Toda M. 2024. The first record of the littoral skink Emoia atrocostata preying on a marine fish, the pearlyspot blenny Praealticus margaritarius. The Herpetological Bulletin 169: 47–48.
  • Asato H, Sasai T, Yamamoto T, Toda M. 2024. Population status of three endangered lizards in Shimojijima and Irabujima islands, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Current Herpetology 43: 159–168.
  • Sawada A, Obayashi M, Asato H. 2023. Recent records of Plestiodon kishinouyei from Hateruma Island. Akamata 32: 42–47. (in Japanese)
  • Yamamoto T, Asato H, Miyazoto S, Sasai T. 2023. Predation on sea turtle eggs by alien Japanese wild boar Sus scrofa leucomystax on Kerama Islands. The Biological Magazine Okinawa 61: 33–41. (in Japanese with English Abstract)
  • Asato H, Sueyoshi K, Nakagawa M, Sugawara R, Kadota Y, Kawauchi N, Kobayashi S, Izawa M, Toda M. 2022. Food habits of the Taiwan beauty snake, Elaphe taeniura friesi, as an introduced species on Okinawajima Island. Current Herpetology 41: 205–214.
  • Shen Y, Fukuyama I, Fukuyama R, Hamanaka K, Yamamoto T, Okamoto K, Asato H. 2022. A field observation of predation on Geoemyda japonica by Lycodon semicarinatus in northern Okinawa. Akamata 31: 5–9. (in Japanese)
  • Asato H, Yamamoto T, Toda M. 2021. Predation on the Yaeyama least horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus perditus, by the Sakishima beauty snake, Elaphe taeniura schmackeri. Akamata 30: 1–4. (in Japanese)
  • Asato H. 2021. Predation on the Miyako grass lizard, Takydromus toyamai, by the huntsman spider, Heteropoda venatoria. Akamata 30: 10–12. (in Japanese)
  • Asato H. 2021. A case of predation on eggs of a gecko by Lycodon rufozonatus walli. Akamata 30: 13–16.
  • Asato H, Tatetsu M, Kamizato H, Tokumine K, Tokumine M, Kamiji S, Ikawa K, Ishikawa S, Gima T, Gonda M, Saiki M, Toda M. 2021. Sleeping-site selection in the Miyako glass lizard, Takydromus toyamai. Akamata 30: 29–33. (in Japanese)
  • Yamamoto T, Asato H. 2020. A record of cannibalism by Plestiodon marginatus. Akamata 29: 16–18. (in Japanese)
  • Asato H, Izawa M. 2020. Identification of species in Soricidae and Muridae on Okinawa-jima Island based on their hair morphology. Mammalian Science 60: 191–210. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Yamamoto T, Okamoto K, Seiko T, Kuwana C, Tao SD, Asato H, Jono T. 2020. Report on the 9th World Congress of Herpetology in Dunedin, New Zealand. Bulletin of the Herpetological Society of Japan 2020: 226–232. (in Japanese)
  • Asato H, Matsumoto K. 2018. Predation on sea turtle eggs by alien Japanese wild boar Sus scrofa leucomystax on Tokashiki Island. The Biological Magazine Okinawa 56: 39–44. (in Japanese with English Abstract)

Books

  • 安里瞳．2024．研究者からのメッセージ3　ミヤコカナヘビと考える身近にすむいきものの研究と保全．p. 134–135．竹中践（編），日本のいきものビジュアルガイド　はっけん！カナヘビ．緑書房．

Affiliated academic society

  • The Ecological Society of Japan
  • Herpetological Society of Japan
  • The Biological Society of Okinawa
  • The Okinawa Herpetological Society

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