Japan stretches north to south in the shape of an arc.
Because the climate in the north is quite different from that in the south, the wildlife found in the respective regions is also different. There are approximately 188 types of wild mammals. On Okinawa and in other southern areas are the Iriomote wildcat and Amami hare. On the main island of Honshu and on Shikoku and Kyushu are found the Japanese serow, giant flying squirrel, Japanese bear, Japanese macaque, and wild boar. In Hokkaido live the Ezo brown bear, sable, striped squirrel, and Sakhalin red fox.