Minamisoma Nature Exhibit

更新日:2020年12月02日

Mountain wildlife diorama

What kind of nature exists around us? While it bestows blessings upon us, there are also times when it is a threatening force. Our lives are strongly intertwined with nature.

This corner of the museum introduces Minamisoma’s terrain, geological features, fossils of extinct plants and animals, wildlife, and protected species.

Whale vertabrae fossil

Origins of the Land:
Topography, geological features, fossils

Nature and Living Things:
Animals, plants, protected species

Origins of the Land

The Minamisoma we live in today has reached its current form over an extremely long period of time. We showcase the history of this land over several millennia by examining its geological formation and geographical features.

The Geological Features, Fossils, and Terrain of Minamisoma

Geological Features

Various rock specimens

We have a collection of rocks found within the city from a wide range of eras, from the Paleozoic era (542-251 million years ago) to the Cenozoic era (66 million years ago-present day).

Living Creatures Found as Fossils

Ammonite fossil

A wide variety of fossils have been produced in Minamisoma. We have found unusual fossils of plants, footprints of dinosaurs, and even a new type of ammonite.

Numerous fossils found in Minamisoma by researchers are now on display in the museum exhibit.

Diorama of Minamisoma's Geography

Diorama of Fukushima Prefecture's topography

The terrain of Minamisoma is reproduced in this diorama, stretching from the mountains to the sea, with Haramachi in the center.

Nature and Living Things

Minamisoma’s terrain is rich in diversity, from its coast and rivers to its hills and mountains. Accordingly, a large array of flora and fauna have come to live and thrive in these varied environments over an extensive period of time.

The museum introduces some of these plants and animals that live in Minamisoma in dioramas depicting the natural landscape of the area.

Plantlife in Minamisoma

Nearly 1500 different species of vegetation grow in Minamisoma, including trees, shrubs, herbs, and mosses. You can spot a wide variety of these plants throughout the area, from the sandy shores on the coast to the steep slopes in the valleys.

Coastline Vegetation

Beach morning glory

Many plants can be seen near the ocean with special characteristics that have help them adapt to strong winds and the salty sea breeze. You can easily spot hamaboufuu (beach silvertops), hamahirugao (beach morning glories), and hamaendou (beach peas).

The northern coast of the city especially is known to be the northernmost limit for a lot of these commonly seen types, and has been designated as a natural monument by the prefecture.

Waterline Vegetation

A type of seaweed called "baikamo"

You can find many different water-loving plants next to rivers and canals. These plants have adapted to withstand the strong flows, the changes in water levels, and life underwater. Here in Minamisoma, you can also spot some types that can only grow in a limited area due to the decline of their ideal environment, such as baikamo (Ranunculus nipponicus var. submersus) and mizuaoi (oval-leafed pondweed).

Mountain Vegetation

Mountain rhododendron

The Abukuma Mountains tower in the western section of Minamisoma at an elevation of 400 to 600 meters. In this mountainous region, you can see akayashio (Rhododendron pentaphyllum), as well as several types of epiphyitic orchids such as kayaran (East Asian thrixspermum) and mamedzutaran (Bulbophyllum drymoglossum).

Animal Life in Minamisoma

Deep valleys carve between Minamisoma’s mountains, and are filled with forests of broadleaf trees. Troops of monkeys known as Japanese macaques move through this area, and a large amount of wild birds can be found, such as mountain hawk-eagles and ruddy kingfishers. A cold mist fills the valleys toward the beginning of summer, allowing the Bandai clawed salamander and the Platycerus stag beetle to inhabit lower elevations.

Paddy fields and waterways near the hills act as storehouses for many animals. You can find Japanese rice fish and Tokyo daruma pond frogs, as well as many insects such as blue dragonflies and giant water bugs known as tagame (Lethocerus deyrollei). Meanwhile foxes and owls live in the hills nearby.

There are many crabs living in the reed bed near the shoreline such as the kurobenkeigani (mudflat crab). However, the hinumaito tonbo (a species of damselfly) that had been identified in the area has not been seen again since the Great East Japan earthquake in 2011.

Various animals in Minamisoma

1. Great spotted woodpecker, 2. Forest green tree frog, 3. Tagame, 4. Common bluebottle butterfly, 5. Japanese marten, 6. Bitterling, 7. Blue-and-white flycatcher

Patterns of the Forest Green Tree Frog

Forest green tree frog replica

The forest green tree frog resides in the mountainous region of Minamisoma. There are some areas where these types of frogs have a brown spotted pattern and other areas where they do not, but both types are found mixed together in Minamisoma. A detailed replica is on display in the museum of one such spotted frog.

Main Exhibits

  • Stones and fossils from Minamisoma
  • Map of Minamisoma’s topography and vegetation
  • Diorama of woodland creatures
  • Picture of Haramachi district’s topography and land use
  • Photo panel of Minamisoma’s flora, fauna, and protected species
  • Fossilized bones of a whale found in Haramachi (backbones and tailbones)
  • Floor inlay of the image of the whale’s skeletal structure
  • Evolution of horses (panel)
  • Evolution of humans (examples of skulls from Australopithecine, primitive humans, Neanderthals, and modern humans)
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