• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.165-177
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• 2003

The study was carried out to investigate the researches of Snake which was published papers in the TOXlCON(1990-2000), one of the most famous Journal of toxicology. And the results were as follows : 1. The number related with Snake is 195papers. 2. There were great papers related wih Cobra, and next is Tigris, Viper, etc. 3. There were great papers related wih protein in the composition of snake venom. 4. There were great papers related wih neurotoxin in the research of poisonous character. 5. There were great papers related wih Viper according to the anticoagulation. 6 Eight papers were published to study the immune response of snake venom. 7. The papers of molecular study of snake venom were seven. 8. The papers of anti-snake venom study were three.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.657-663
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the difference in feeding habits of Red-Tongued Viper Snakes, according to available foods sources and areas. The effects of differences in food sources were found on Red-Tongued Viper Snake inhabited in the Jeju Island and its islet Gapado, from May 2006 to Nov. 2010. The food sources for the Red-Tongued viper snake population in the Jeju Island were found to be as follows: Chinese red-headed centipedes (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans), Jeju Salamanders (Hynobius quelpaertensis), Japanese tree Frogs (Hyla japonica), Narrow-mouthed Toad (Kaloula borealis), Dybowski's Brown Frogs (Rana dybowskii), Black-spotted Pond Frogs (Rana nigromaculata), Smooth Skinks (Scincella vandenburghi), Asian Keelback Snakes (Amphiesma vibakari), Lesser White-toothed Shrews (Crosidura shantungensis), Hallasan Shrews (Sorex caecutiens hallamontanus), and Jeju Striped Field Mice (Apodemus chejuensis). This implies that Red-Tongued Viper Snakes mainly feed on amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals. Among these, amphibians occupied the highest portion at 55.2% followed by mammals at 20.7%, centipedes at 13.8%, and reptiles at 10.3%. On the contrary, Red-tongued viper snake population in Gapado only feed on Chinese red-headed centipedes and Smooth Skinks (S. vandenburghi). Since only a small amount of nutrient can be obtained from Chinese red-headed centipeds or Smooth Skinks, this feeding habit for Red-tongued viper snake would adversely effect on the growth or regeneration. The reason why Red-Tongued viper snake population in the Gapado mainly feed on Lizard and Centipedes in spite of relatively various available food sources, might be due to the low density of other food sources in the Gapado. Red-Tongued viper snake could be feeding on foods that are low in quality but are easily accessible, to minimize energy consumption on searching for other more nutritious foods. A snake tends to select the size of its food depending on the size of its own head. The positive correlation was found between the size of the heads of Red-Tongued viper snakes from the Jeju island and the diameter of their foods. The head size was larger in the males than females in viper snake population from the Jeju Island, which might effect on their selection of foods. However, no significant difference was found between the sizes of the head and the food in the Red-Tongued viper snake population from the Gapado. The findings of this study would provide meaningful data, which directly shows that even within the same viper species they choose different available food sources according to their inhabitance. This leads to their growth and adaptation to their environment which is beneficial for sustaining of its population.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2014

In order to study the home range of the red-tongue viper snake (Gloydis ussuriensis) and the short-tailed viper snake (Gloydius saxatilis) belonging to the viperidae of squamat in Korea, we implanted radio-transmitters which were weighed less than 5% of individual mass in them and traced their location by radio-tracking. Surgeries for transmitter insertion were performed on 5 red-tongue viper snakes and 6 short-tailed viper snakes (total 11 individuals) and the average ratio of transmitter mass to body mass were 4.2% and 2.2%, respectively. After radio-transmitter implantation, all short-tailed viper snakes survived but 4 out of 5 red-tongue viper snakes did not survive during the convalescence stage, showing only 20% of survival rate. The results suggest that the ratio of transmitter mass to body mass should be less than 3.6% at least in these species, although previous studies have recommended various ranges from 1% to 7% as the acceptable ratios.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 2014

The distribution of animals is affected by habitat selection, and habitat type and prey resource are important factors affecting their survival. This study was conducted to investigate the distribution pattern of the Red-tongue viper snake (Gloydius ussuriensis) with respect to altitude, habitat type and distribution of potential prey resource in Cheon-ma mountain, Korea. The study area of Cheon-ma mountain was separated into three altitude categories (low, middle, and high altitude) and the habitat types were categorized according to presence or absence of aquatic ecosystem and the preferred habitat in relation to altitude was determined. The distribution pattern of Red-tongue viper snakes was significantly different according to altitude and habitat type: they were mainly distributed at low altitude and in the water valleys. The distribution pattern of the Red-tongue viper snake correlated with that of amphibians. The analyses of microhabitat use of the Red-tongue viper snake and amphibians showed that their microhabitat types were not different significantly in water valleys. In conclusion, Red-tongue viper snakes were mainly distributed in the water valleys at low altitude and this is because amphibians are important as potential prey of the Red-tongue viper snake in Cheon-ma mountain.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.192-199
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the movement and home range of the red-tongued viper snake (Gloydius ussuriensis) from June 2006 to June 2009. This snake species inhabits an islet on Jeju Island, Gapado. A total of 132 individual snakes were marked during the study. Among the marked individuals, the number of snakes recaptured more than once was 22 (16.8 %) and the number of individuals recaptured more than twice was eight (6.1 %), indicating a relatively low recapture rate. The durations from capture to recapture varied from 1 to 710 days. However, the capture points were not much different, indicating that the moved distance of snakes and the interval between capture-recapture were not correlated. The home ranges of the Red-tongued viper snakes calculated from data of the snakes which were captured more than three times using the MCP(minimum convex polygon) method were $8{\sim}167m^2(64.0{\pm}57.0m^2)$, suggesting that this snake is relatively sedentary. Home range size differences between female ($Mean=62.0m^2$) and male ($Mean=66.0m^2$) snakes were not significant. In the red-tongued viper population of Gapado, there was no statistically significant relationship between body size and home range size although it was positively correlated (r=0.675). Our results provide valuable data to understand life patterns of the red-tongued viper snakes and will be useful when conducting further ecological studies on other snake species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.542-549
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the body size, sexual size dimorphism (SSD), and related environmental factors between Red-tongued viper snakes (Gloydius ussuriensis) inhabiting two different places, i.e., Jeju Island and its islet Gapado, and to provide data required to maintain species diversity from May, 2006 until June, 2009. The snout-vent length of the Red-tongued viper snake population inhabiting Jeju Island was found to be 242-532 mm ($422.0{\pm}46.7mm$, n = 100) in females and 296-580 mm ($434.5{\pm}51.7mm$, n = 63) in males. In contrast, the snout-vent length was observed to be 205-395 mm ($335{\pm}43.6mm$, n = 55) in female and 215-430 mm ($328{\pm}39.4mm$, n = 73) in male Red-tongued viper snakes inhabiting Gapado. These data demonstrated the snout-vent length of both female and male Red-tongued viper snakes on Jeju Island to be larger than those on Gapado (Female t = 17.343, df = 115, P<0.001; Male = 19.128, df = 101, P<0.001). SSD was measured to be -0.03 in the Red-tongued viper snake population on Jeju Island, with more or less larger sizes in the males, while it was 0.02 in the Red-tongued viper snake population in the Gapado, with a little larger sizes in the females. The reason for this difference in the snake populations between Jeju Island and Gapado may be due to adaption to the different ecological environments. In addition, as SSD, the snout-vent length of the Red-tongued viper snake populations and in young vipers was somewhat higher in the males than in the females on Jeju Island (t = -2.011, df = 117, P<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in the snout-vent length of the young and the general Red-tongued viper snake populations on Gapa Island. For the population on Jeju island, the head length (F = 6.318, $df_{1,2}$=1,117, P<0.05), head width (F=8.090, $df_{1,2}$=1,117, P<0.01), inter eye length (F=15.898, $df_{1,2}$=1,117, P<0.001), and tail length (F=238.488, $df_{1,2}$=1,111, P<0.001) were all larger in the males, while females showed higher body mass (F=64.111, $df_{1,2}$=1,114, P<0.001). In the case of the Gapa Island population, no significant differences in the head length, head width, and inter eye length between females and males were observed, while the males had a longer tail length (F=168.555, $df_{1,2}$=1,74, P<0.001) and the females were heavier (F=17.812, $df_{1,2}$=1,76, P<0.001). Though no significant differences were found in the head length, head width, and inter eye length, the tail length (F=67.793, $df_{1,2}$=1,72, P<0.001) and body mass (F=4.558, $df_{1,2}$=1,72, P<0.05) were higher in the young male Red-tongued viper snakes than in the females. The snout-vent length, head length, head width, and inter eye length, which did not display SSD in the young Red-tongued viper snake populations, were higher in the male Red-tongued viper snake populations than in the female population from Jeju Island, implying that SSD in the Red-tongued viper snake population on Jeju Island is expressed due to environmental effects during their growth.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.531-541
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• 2014

This research investigated the reproduction cycle, litter size, and the effects of factors of red-tongue viper snake inhabiting in Jeju Island, to delve into their life strategy. Field survey was conducted in Jeju Island from May 2006 to November 2008. Reproduction cycle was analyzed through measurements of testis and follicle sizes in laboratory from March 2009 to December 2010. According to the research results, the sizes of red-tongue viper snake's testis and follicle clearly changed seasonally. The number of eggs within the oviduct were greater on the right side ($2.6{\pm}1.0$ eggs, n=16) than on the left side ($1.8{\pm}0.5$ eggs, n=16) (t=-2,721, p<0.05). Average (${\pm}SD$) of survival litter size (SLS) was $4.4{\pm}1.7$ (1~9, range), while total litter size (TLS) was $4.7{\pm}1.5$ (3~9, range), which were not statistically significant. However, their litter sizes were similar to the number of eggs within the oviduct (t=0.039, P>0.05). Relative litter mass (RCM) was $0.42{\pm}0.13$ (0.18~0.79, n=33), and tended to increase, as maternal condition of pre-parturition (MCPPI) was getting better. The sexual ratio of delivered litters showed no significant difference between male and female red-tongue viper snakes (♂:♀ = 1.15:1, n=73 ; ${\chi}^2$=0.342, P>0.5). Average neonate mass showed a weak correlation with maternal mass of pre-parturition (MMPP1) (r=0.387, P<0.05, n=33). Average neonate Snout-vent length (SVL) also demonstrated a weak correlations with maternal SVL (r=0.399, P<0.05, n=33) and MMPP1 (r=0.344, P<0.05, n=33). Average neonate mass and maternal SVL approached significant probability (r=0.323, P=0.067, n=33). This indicates that mother snakes can bear bigger litter due to its larger size. In some cases, litter's weight decreases as mother snakes are bearing more litter; however, the red-tongued viper snake did not show such exchange relationship. From this, it can be conjectured that a red-tongued viper snake has peculiarity of its own species. The research results are predicted to be used as the basis to find a life history of red-tongued viper snake.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2022

Objectives: Snake venom is a complex mixture of various pharmacologically active substances, such as small proteins, peptides, and organic and mineral components. This paper aims to identify and analyse the proteins in common venomous snakes, such as Gloydius blomhoffii (G. blomhoffii) and Agkistrodon acutus (A. acutus), in Korea. Methods: We used mass spectrometry, electrophoresis, N-terminal sequencing and in-gel digestion to analyse the proteins in these two snake venoms. Results: We identified eight proteins in G. blomhoffii venom and four proteins in A. acutus venom. The proteins detected in G. blomhoffii and A. acutus venoms were phospholipase A₂, snake venom metalloproteinase and cysteine-rich secretory protein. Snake C-type lectin (snaclec) was unique to A. acutus venom. Conclusion: These data will contribute to the current knowledge of proteins present in the venoms of viper snakes and provide useful information for investigating their therapeutic potential.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.42-53
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• 2017

One of the negative ecological effects following road construction is roadkill; animals die on the roads after being struck by vehicles. Roadkills have been a major concern in South Korea due to the large mountain areas in the country and have been mentioned as a causal factor for the decline in wildlife. Although snake roadkills frequently occur, as with mammals, birds, and amphibians, there are not many related studies done on snake roadkills. In this study, we determined snake roadkill patterns in the northeast part of South Korea including most of the Gangwon-do areas and parts of Gyeonggi-do, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Gyeongsangbuk-do by analyzing the snake roadkills found between May 2007 and Aug 2012. We identified a total of 155 roadkilled snakes from 10 different species. Red-sided water snake (Rhabdophis tigrinus), Red-tongue viper snake (Gloydius ussuriensis), Cat snake (Elaphe dione), Red-banded snake (Dinodon rufozonatus), and Viper snake (Gloydius brevicaudus) accounted for more than 90% of the total cases. It was found that more active forager snakes were killed than sit-and-wait foragers, more male snakes were killed than female snakes, and more adult snakes were killed than subadult snakes. The snake roadkill frequency was the highest in September between the altitudes of 200 and 400 m, and on roads between either a mountain and a body of water or between a mountain and a crop field. Our results are expected to enhance the understanding of snake roadkills in general and to determine the areas, specific sites and species for planning projects for snake roadkill reduction in the northeast of South Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 1998

The present study was performed to observe the infection status of several kind of animals with indigenous Gnnthostomn in Korea, and morphological characteristics of gnathostome larvae detected from pit-viper, Askistronon breuiccudus, for the species bullfrogs. several kinds of snakes, j.e., 55 Elnphe rufodorsata, 2 Dinodon rufozonatum rufzonatum. 62 Rhnbdophis tisrinus tigrinus and 87 Askistronon app., and 438 cats were examined. A total of 21 larval gnathostomes was detected from 12 pit-vipers, A. breuicnudus. They were 2.233 x 0.343 mm in average size and covered with about 210 transverse rows of minute cuticular spines. Their characteristic head bulbs were provided with 4 rows of hooklets of which average numbers in each row were 36.8, 39.0, 41.7 and 44.3. posteriorly. In the cross sections of midgut level, the intestinal wall consisted of a single layer of 19-25 elongate epithelial cells with a single nucleus. SEM observation of the larvae revealed unique features of head bulb , cuticular spines on transverse striations and a cervical papilla. On the basis of above morphological characteristics, they were identified as the advanced third-stage larvae of Gnothostomo hispinum. It was first confirmed that the pit-viper. ABkistronon breuicaunus is the snake intermediate host of G. hispidun.