5. Takahide Sasai
Okinawa Churashima Foundation RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Research on marine organisms

Research staff profile

笹井　隆秀

Takahide Sasai

Chief Research Scientist

Area of
expertise		 Herpetology
Research
content
  • Ecology and Ethology of Marine reptiles

Background

  • 2021-Conservation Biology Section of Aquarium Management Center & Research Scientist at Zoological Laboratory of Okinawa Churashima Foundation Research Institute
  • 2021-present: “Research Scientist at Okinawa Churashima Foundation Research Center” and “Amphibian and Reptile Team, Marine Mammal Section, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium”
  • 2019: Researcher, Zoological Laboratory, Okinawa Churashima Research Institute
  • 2013：curator and keeper, Kobe Suma Aqualife Park
  • 2013: M. Sc. in Science, University of the Ryukyus Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • 2011: B. Sc. in Marine Science, University of the Ryukyus Faculty of Science

Committee Career

  • 2025: Executive Council (treasurer), Herpetological Society of Japan
  • 2024-present: IUCN Species Survival Commission Sea Snake Specialist Group
  • 2019-2023: Executive Assistant (treasurer), Herpetological Society of Japan
  • 2018-present: Committee member, Breeding and Management Review Meeting of Takydromus toyamai, Biodiversity Committee of Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Research papers, publications

  • Maeda, K., Kino, M., Sasai, T., Kawazu, I. Examination of initial food for juvenile loggerhead sea turtles. Journal of Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums. in press (in Japanese with English abstract).
  • Urabe M., Sasai T., Sokolov S. G. Rejection of the concept of hemiurid genus Pulmovermis and other taxonomic propositions: new morphological and molecular data regarding Lecithochirium cyanovitellosum (Coil and Kuntz, 1960) Urabe and Sokolov, comb. nov. (formerly Pulmovermis cyanovitellosus). Systematic Parasitology (in press).
  • Yamazaki K., Sasai T., Ashida H. and Kawazu I. 2025. First Observations of Mating Behavior in Captive Kuroiwa’s Ground Gecko (Goniurosaurus kuroiwae). Current Herpetology 44(1): 88-93.
  • Yamazaki K. and Sasai T. 2024. Reproduction and rearing of tadpoles and juveniles of the Yaeyama harpist frog, Nidirana okinavana, in captivity. AKAMATA 33: 9-13.
  • Sasai T., Yamazaki K., Maeda K., Mizuochi K., Kino M. and Kawazu I. Marine debris ingestion of black sea turtles Chelonia agassizii around Okinawajima Island, Japan. Umigame Newsletter 113: 1-5.
  • Yamamoto T., Asato H., Sasai T. and Toda M. 2024. The first record of the littoral skink Emoia atrocostata preying on a marine fish, the pearlyspot blenny Praealticus margaritarius. Herpetological Bulletin 169: 47-48.
  • Asato H., Sasai T., Yamamoto T., Toda M. 2024. Population Status of Three Endangered Lizards in Shimojijima Island and Irabujima Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Current Herpetology 43(2): 159-168.
  • Sasai T., Maeda K., Sasai M. 2023. The first record of Pelodiscus sinensis nesting on the sandy beach. AKAMATA (32): 25-29.
  • Kawazu I., Maeda K., Kobuchi T., Sasai T., Mizuochi K., Yamazaki K., Maeda K., Kino M. and Fukada S. Age and Body Characteristics of Captive Green Turtles at the Onset of Vitellogenesis. Journal of Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 65(2): 31-36.
  • Kawazu I, Hmabata T, Sasai T, Maeda K, Nakamura M, Kobuchi T, Nakashima E, Yamazaki K, Mizuochi K, Ueda K. First observation of accidental ingestion of pumice stone in a green turtle hatchling. Herpetological Review (in press).
  • Oka S, Nozu R, Miyamoto K, Tomita T, Hanahara N, Yamauchi C, Sasai T, Nakamura M. 2023. A trial to control invasive Mozambique tilapia populations using the sterile-male release technique in the artificial ponds on Okinawa. The Biological Magazine Okinawa 61: 1-12.
  • Yamamoto T, Asato H, Miyazato S, Sasai T. Predation on sea turtle eggs by alien Japanese wild boar Sus scrofa leucomystax on Kerama Islands. The Biological Magazine Okinawa 61: 33-41.
  • Sasai T, Okazawa T, Hasegawa M, Yamazaki K. The first record of sea anemone Stichodactyla gigantea consuming a sea snake Emydocephalus ijimae. Herpetological Bulletin 161: 44-45.
    https://doi.org/10.33256/hb161.4445
  • Tomita T, Toda M, Fukugawa Y, Sasai T, Murakumo K. 2022. Fluorescent cacao oil: A material suited for highlighting blood vessel in macro-scale dissection. MethodsX.
    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016122000954
  • Fukada S, Kawazu I, Maeda K, Kobuchi T, Makabe M, Kino M, Maeda K, Omata M, Sasai T. 2022. Breeding success of captive F2 generation of loggerhead turtle in Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Herpetological Review 53(2): 246-249.
  • Takahata A, Negishi R, Oumi S, Sasai T. 2022. Hawksbill turtles nested for the first time in 23 years on Odo beach of southern part of Okinawajima Island, Japan. Umigame Newsletter 110: 1-3. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Sasai T, Yamamoto T, Oka S, Toda M. 2021. Addition of the Sea Snake, Hydrophis stokesii (Squamata: Elapidae), to the Herpetofauna of Japan. Current Herpetology 40(2): 190-196.
  • Sasai T, Kino M, Miyamoto K, Okabe H, Maeda Ko, Fukada S, Maeda Ke, Kobayashi N, Kobuchi T, Makabe M, Kawazu I. 2021. Evaluation of Marine Debris Ingestion in Sea Turtles around Okinawa Island, Japan. Marine Turtle Newsletter 163: 21-24..
  • Fujishima K, Sasai T, Hibino Y, Nishizawa H. 2021. Morphology, diet, and reproduction of coastal Hydrophis sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae) at their northern distribution limit. Zoological Science 38(5): 1-11.
  • Hatakenaka T, Miyake K, Takada H, Sasai T, Fukada S, Kayou N, Kobuchi T, Maeda K, Makabe M, Kawazu I, Saito T. 2021. Influence of retention conditions and duration on the swim frenzy in green sea turtle hatchlings. Kuroshio Science: 103–112.
  • Kishida T, Toda M, Go Y, Tatsumoto S, Sasai T, Hikida T. 2021. Population history and genomic admixture of sea snakes of the genus Laticauda in the West Pacific. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2020.107005.
  • Oka S, Sasai T, Hanahara N, Miyamoto K, Kobayashi Y, Murata N, Maeda K. 2021. Genetic traits of the weatherfish Misgurnus sp. OK on the Okinawa Islands, southern Japan. Fauna Ryukyuana. 59: 57–61.
  • Sasai T, Seiko T, Kutsuma R, Tokuyama T. 2020. Laticauda laticaudata (Blue-lipped Sea Krait) predation. Herpetological Review. 51: 621.
  • Yi CH, Park J, Sasai T, Kim HS, Kim JG, Kim MS, Cho IY, Kim JM, Kim IH. 2020. Complete mitochondrial genome of the Hydrophis melanocephalus slender-necked sea snake (Squamata, Elapidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B. 5: 1406-1407.
  • Doi T, Nagasawa K, Ichikawa K, Ooshima N, Sasai T, Tujimura N, Sasai T, Suzuki T, Okamoto K, Higashiguchi N, Aoyama S, Fujita H, Miyamoto S. 2019. Records of four rare snake species observed in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. Humans and Nature. 30: 109-119. (in Japanese)
  • Sasai T, Ueno S, Ishihara T. 2019. A report of mating of red eared sliders with deceased female. Kiraku. 17: 2-3. (in Japanese)
  • Yi CH, Park J, Sasai T, Kim HS, Kim JG, Kim MS, Cho IY, Kim IH. 2019. Complete mitochondrial genome of the Ijima's Sea Snake (Emydocephalus ijimae) (Squamata, Elapidae). Mitochondrial DNA Part B. 4: 2658-2659.
  • Kutsuma R, Sasai T, Kishida T. 2018. How snakes find prey underwater: sea snakes use visual and chemical cues for foraging. Zoological Science. 35: 483-486.
  • Mochida K, Sasai T, Kadota Y, Nishikawa M, Itou M. M, TODA M. 2018. Thermal reaction norms of locomotor performance in lacertid lizards of the Genus Takydromus. Current Herpetology. 37: 114-123.
  • Sasai T, Ueno S, Higashiguchi N. 2018. Details of Chelydra serpentine and Macrochelys temminckii captured in the wild. Kiraku. 15: 4. (in Japanese)
  • Mine K, Sasai T, Ueno S. 2017. Juveniles of red-eared slider appeared from the nest in spring in 2014. Kiraku. 14: 18-19. (in Japanese)
  • Kadota Y, Aoyagi M, Tokuyama T, Saiki M, Sasai T, Toda M, Maenosono T. 2016. Observations of two rare species of snake, Hebius concelarus and Lycodon ruhstrati multifasciatus on Miyakojima and Irabujima islands. AKAMATA. 26: 25-30. (in Japanese)
  • Sasai T, Kameda K, Izawa M. 2016. Seasonal changes in predation on sea turtle eggs and use of beaches by the Ryukyu wild boar Sus scrofa riukiuanus on southern Iriomote Island, Japan. Mammalian Science. 56: 97-103. (in Japanese with English abstract)

Books

  • Sasai T. How sea snakes find prey underwater. 2019. Caudata 3: 19-21. (in Japanese)

Affiliated Academic Society

  • The Biological Society of Okinawa
  • The Okinawa Herpetological Society
  • Herpetological Society of Japan
  • Sea Turtle Association of Japan

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