Ryukyu sweetfish
A subspecies of sweetfish (ayu) endemic to the Ryukyu Islands. Scientific name: Plecoglossus altivelis ryukyuensis.
See also: アユ
The Ryukyu sweetfish is an endemic subspecies that inhabits rivers in Okinawa.
Katakana spelling is common for this species name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 琉球 (Ryūkyū, 'Ryukyu') and 鮎 (ayu, 'sweetfish'). The name directly describes the fish's geographic origin.