Some Reptiles and Amphibians from KoreaJones, J. Knox
Science
Some Reptiles and Amphibians from Korea
Jones, J. Knox
Amphibians -- Korea; Reptiles -- Korea
_Remarks._--Individuals were observed or taken on dry, scrubby hillsides
and in grassy upland areas. One of the three snakes from the Central
National Forest was captured on a steep, forested hillside among granite
outcroppings; another was obtained there along a stream bank and had
eaten three bats, _Murina aurata_ (see Jones, 1960:265), and one mouse,
_Apodemus_ sp. (tail only found). P. M. Youngman reported (personal
communication) finding a rat (_Rattus_ sp.) in the stomach of one
individual. A female (KU 38830, length of body, 1180) that was obtained
on June 2 contained 17 eggs, each approximately 32 mm. long. The
ventrals of two females numbered 223 and 229, and the subcaudals of the
latter 70. Ventrals and subcaudals of five males were, respectively,
211, 213, 214, 215, 216, and 71, 75, 75, 69, 75.
The coloration and pattern of our seven specimens are of interest in
view of the probable intergradation between _E. s. anomala_ and _E. s.
schrencki_ in northern Korea (see comments by Shannon, 1956:46). The
smallest specimen (KU 38831), having a total length of 335 (280 + 55),
was obtained 4 mi. N P´yong-taek on September 24. It is nearly uniform
pale brown (lacks a dorsal pattern) and additionally is characterized as
follows: incomplete pattern on the head; no black postocular band (pale
brown with black posterior border); ventrolateral extensions of the head
pattern that form longitudinal stripes of white on the third row of
scales; a pale whitish stripe on the sixth and seventh scale rows that
extends posteriorly to the level of the fortieth ventral and that has a
narrow black border (sometimes interrupted); small and indistinct
blackish markings and pale stripes on sides (no higher than sixth row of
scales); underside of the head whitish; and venter grayish, having
blackish margins on the ends of ventrals posteriorly. KU 38831 is
unusual and perhaps anomalous in having a pattern that does not conform
to the juvenile pattern of either subspecies.
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