• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2020

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.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.121-123
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• 2006

In this study we reinvestigated the taxonomy of the collared many-toothed snake (Korean name: Bibaribem) of Jeju Island, Korea. The Bibari-bem is a colubrid indigenous to Jeju Island and was first assigned to S. collaris Gray. However, the geographic distribution of S. collaris is not continuous with the Korean peninsula, making it doubtful that Bibari-bem should be assigned to it. Some herpetologists have suggested that Bibari-bem may instead belong to the closely related S. chinensis G?nther. To resolve this conflict, we compared the diagnostic characteristics of S. collaris and S. chinensis as described in the literature with the characteristics of individuals collected on Jeju Island. We collected six individuals with one preocular, two postocular, two anterior temporal, and no lower ocular scales. Five individuals had nine (3-3-3 form) supralabials, among which fourth to sixth are touching the orbit and the ninth is the largest. One individual had eight (2-3-3 form) supralabials, third to fifth touching the orbit, with the eighth being the largest. These data suggest that Bibari-bem is not S. collaris, but S. chinensis.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.342-347
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• 2005

This study was carried out to examine the distribution and habitat of Bibarl snake (Sibynophis Collaris) from March 1998 to June 2005 in Jeju island, Korea. 5 individuals of Bibari snake were observed on northern part of JeJu, 1 individual on southern area and 2 individuals on western area during research period. As a result, it was revealed that Bibari snake was found on the whole of Jeju island. Its observation was made from May to October, especially frequent from May to July. The body length of adult Bibari snakes were $406{\~}452mm$ and its tail length $29+{\~}202mm. Considering of number and shape of supralabials and number of temporals, the characters of Bibari snake were similar to those of S. chinensis. Therefore it seems need to reconstruct taxonomic position of Bibari snake. From a vertical viewpoint of Mt. Halla, Biabri snake prefers to stay on the grassland 600m below the sea. Consequently, it Is suggested that grassland be well-reserved for the protection of Bibari snakes.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the herpeto-fauna at Hallasan National Park. We conducted a survey at 1100 Resting places, Eoseungsaengak, Donnaeko, Eorimok, Yeongsil, Gwaneumsa and Seongpanak from April, 2006 to January, 2007. A series of four families and 5 species of amphibians and 4 families and 8 species of reptiles were observed. Amphiesma vibakari ruthveni, Takydromus wolteri, Scincella vandenburghi, Coluber spinalis and Hynobius quelpartensis which are rarely appearing inland but they were frequently observed by this survey. Also, we observed Sibynophis chinensis that only inhabits Jeju island with in Korea. Jeju island has both southern and northern boundary lines for amphibians and reptiles. Amphibians and reptiles in Jeju island have a different from those inland and valuable information for biogeograpy due to dissimilar climate and isolation from continental for a long time. It is not certain whether some amphibians and reptiles, Bufo gargarizans, Rana rugosa, R. plancyi, Elaphe rufodorsata and Takydromus amurensis, inhabit Jeju island, as recorded in previous literatures, so the research on current status of them has to be carried out immediately.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.381-396
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• 2017

Understanding species distribution plays an important role in conservation as well as evolutionary biology. In this study, we applied a species distribution model to predict hotspot areas and habitat characteristics for endangered herpetofauna species in South Korea: the Korean Crevice Salamander (Karsenia koreana), Suweon-tree frog (Hyla suweonensis), Gold-spotted pond frog (Pelophylax chosenicus), Narrow-mouthed toad (Kaloula borealis), Korean ratsnake (Elaphe schrenckii), Mongolian racerunner (Eremias argus), Reeve's turtle (Mauremys reevesii) and Soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). The Kori salamander (Hynobius yangi) and Black-headed snake (Sibynophis chinensis) were excluded from the analysis due to insufficient sample size. The results showed that the altitude was the most important environmental variable for their distribution, and the altitude at which these species were distributed correlated with the climate of that region. The predicted distribution area derived from the species distribution modelling adequately reflected the observation site used in this study as well as those reported in preceding studies. The average AUC value of the eigh species was relatively high ($0.845{\pm}0.08$), while the average omission rate value was relatively low ($0.087{\pm}0.01$). Therefore, the species overlaying model created for the endangered species is considered successful. When merging the distribution models, it was shown that five species shared their habitats in the coastal areas of Gyeonggi-do and Chungcheongnam-do, which are the western regions of the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, we suggest that protection should be a high priority in these area, and our overall results may serve as essential and fundamental data for the conservation of endangered amphibian and reptiles in Korea.