habu; yellow-spotted pit viper
A venomous pit viper native to the Ryukyu Islands. The name is typically written in katakana.
In Okinawa, people are told to watch out for habu snakes.
The habu is a type of venomous snake.
マムシ (mamushi) is a different pit viper species found on the Japanese mainland, while ハブ is specific to the Ryukyu Islands.
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling is also common and matches usual-kana usage.
Kanji spelling is rarely used; the katakana form is strongly preferred.
Obscure kanji form; it is rarely used.
The word is likely derived from a Ryukyuan language; the exact origin is uncertain.