Description: Sharing geomorphological similarities with the south Ryukyu Islands, this archipelagic ecoregion is formed of an island arc oriented from south-west to north-east, from Okinawa to Amami and the smaller, mainly volcanic string of islands in the north, including Kagoshima. There is extensive development of fringing and lagoonal patch reefs north to approximately 30°N latitude, whereupon corals mostly grow on non-reef substrates. Large parts of most islands have been modified for urban development and agriculture, although significant patches of montane forest remain on some islands, notably northern okinawa and Amami. Reefs of many islands are impacted by coastal development, Crown-of-thorns seastars, high temperture bleaching and reclamation, among other disturbances. Reef waters are clear

Distinguishing ecoregion characteristics: To the south-west, the deep Kerama canyons, on the south-western edge of the Ryukyu Ridge, form the boundary with south Ryukyu Islands, and to the north this ecoregion is separated from south-east Kyushu by the latter's lack of reef development. The coral faunas of both Ryukyu Island ecoregions share many similarities

Additional Information: North Ryukyu Islands corals have close affinity with those of South Ryukyu Islands and more distant affinity with those of Taiwan and coastal China (Veron, Stafford-Smith, DeVantier et al., 2015)

General Ecoregion References: Veron (1992); Veron and Minchin (1992); Tsuchiya, Nadaoka, Kayanne et al. (2004); Kimura, Dai, Park et al. (2008); Burke, Reytar, Spalding et al. (2011); Kan (2011); Veron, Stafford-Smith, DeVantier et al. (2015);

Principal Coral Distribution References: In preparation