【Danyang=KoreaPlus】 Reporter Bong Ji Hyun = Reptilian Tigers in Korea.
Reptilian Tigers have been spotted all around the fields and mountains of Korea. No, not the mammal but reptile Tiger… Known as Tiger Keelback (Rhabdophis tigrinus), it is one of the most common snakes of Korea. Medium sized and back-fanged, these cold-blooded beauty is called Flower Snake (Kkotbam) due to its vibrant color.
With weather changing rapidly, reptiles are preparing for hibernation which means they are out and about to feed. Their diet mainly consists of small vertebrates such as frogs and toads. They do not produce their own venom, so they prey on toxic to store the ingested toxins to defend themselves against their own predators.
Tiger Keelbacks grow to about a meter in length, and they’d rather flee then strike but they are not to be dismissed as harmless as they are classified as venomous. Although not fatal to humans, their bite and venom secretion can cause many complications.