Journal of Ecology and Environment

The Ecological Society of Korea (한국생태학회)
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First report on the reproduction of captive Chinese many-toothed snake (Sibynophis chinensis) in Jeju Island, South Korea

  • Banjade, Maniram (Faculty of Science Education, Jeju National University) ;
  • Jeong, Young-Hun (Faculty of Science Education, Jeju National University) ;
  • Han, Sang-Hyun (Korean National Park Institute of Biodiversity Conservation, Korean National Park Service) ;
  • Kim, Yoo-Kyung (Faculty of Science Education, Jeju National University) ;
  • Kim, Byung Soo (Shinseong Girls Middle School) ;
  • Oh, Hong-Shik (Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme in Advance Convergence Technology and Science, Faculty of Science Education, Jeju National University)
  • Received : 2019.07.23
  • Accepted : 2020.01.13
  • Published : 2020.03.31
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Abstract

The Chinese many-toothed snake (Sibynophis chinensis) is an endangered species in South Korea. To determine its reproductive activity, here we captured a gravid S. chinensis from Mulyeongari Oreum Wetland Conservation Area, Jeju Island, on May 27, 2018, and reared it at Animal Taxonomy and Morphology Laboratory, Jeju National University, South Korea. The snake oviposited a clutch of six eggs between June 12 and 20, 2018, with an average size of 24.86 ± 1.36 mm in length and 9.86 ± 0.49 mm in width, which were artificially incubated at a constant temperature of 27 ℃. After incubating for 34-41 days, five of these six eggs successfully hatched. Average snoutvent length (SVL), tail length (TL), and body weight (BW) of hatchlings were 136.5 ± 5.17 mm, 47.76 ± 2.80 mm, and 1.66 ± 0.12 g, respectively. This study observed the reproductive activity of S. chinensis and characterized its eggs and hatchlings for the first time, providing valuable information for the long-term conservation plan of S. chinensis in South Korea.

Keywords

References

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