Kkotbaem, Yamakagashi
Rhabdophis tigrinus, also known commonly as the tiger keelback, kkotbaem, or yamakagashi, is a species of venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to East Asia and Southeast Asia. Many sources, though not ITIS, recognize one subspecies, Rhabdophis tigrinus formosanus of Taiwan.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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VenomousVenom is a type of poison, especially one secreted by an animal. It is delivered in a bite, sting, or similar action. Venom has evolved in terrestr...
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DangerousDangerous animals demonstrate aggression and a propensity to attack or harass people or other animals without provocation.
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SolitaryT
starts withThe Tiger keelback is a venomous snake native to East Asia and Southeast Asia. Its dorsal color pattern is olive-drab green, with black and bright orange crossbars or spots from the neck down the first third of the body. The belly is whitish.
Tiger keelbacks are found in eastern Russia (Primorskiy and Khabarovsk), North and South Korea, China, on the island of Taiwan, in Vietnam, and in Japan. They occur in mixed and deciduous forests, flooded terrain, ponds, and other water bodies.
Tiger keelbacks lead a solitary life and rarely venture far from water. They are active during the day spending most of the time searching for prey which they detect using both chemical (smell/tongue) and visual cues. When sensing danger they take the characteristic threat posture, which is accompanied by an almost vertically raised flattened front third of the body, hissing and striking towards the enemy. Keelback snakes have glands in their neck that secrete poison they ingest from eating poisonous toads. These glands secrete a caustic secretion that scares away predators. Saliva and secretion of the upper labial glands in contact with the wound can cause severe poisoning.
Tiger keelbacks are carnivores and their diet consists mainly of small vertebrates, especially frogs and toads.
Tiger keelbacks are oviparous snakes. Between late July and August females lay 18-22 eggs. The young usually appear at the end of August-September measuring about 15-17 cm (5.9-6.7 in). They grow quickly and become reproductively mature at 1.5 years of age.