Wildlifeof China
Rhabdophis tigrinus
Colubrid Snakes
Photo: Yasunori Koide · CC BY-SA 3.0
Rhabdophis tigrinus
Basic stats
Diet
Frogs and toads
Range
East Asia including eastern Russia, Korea, Japan and China
Size
60–100 cm
The tiger keelback or yamakagashi (Rhabdophis tigrinus) is a venomous natricine colubrid native to East Asia, with a Reptile Database range that includes eastern Russia. Total length is usually 60–100 cm. It is olive-drab green with black and bright orange crossbars or spots on the first third of the body. (The Reptile Database; Wikipedia, general species account)
It feeds mainly on frogs and toads, using smell, tongue and sight to find them. It stores cardiotonic steroids (bufadienolides) taken from toads in specialised glands on the back of the neck, and females pass these chemicals to their offspring through the egg yolk and across the egg membranes. (Wikipedia, general species account)
Quick answers
- What does the Rhabdophis tigrinus eat?
- Frogs and toads
- Where is the Rhabdophis tigrinus found?
- East Asia including eastern Russia, Korea, Japan and China
- How big is the Rhabdophis tigrinus?
- 60–100 cm