>>here are the pics of the "hyper melanistic" schrenki. I had posted a few field pics of on the forum a year or 2 ago. As you can see it still has the typical markings on the chin and neck but lacks all of the white bandings.
>>


Where did you say this form was from? If this is the island form, which is in the Yellow Sea, I would have to say it is anomala. Like John said, E. s. schrencki does not range into South Korea according to any info that we have seen, including Schulz' book ('96). It looks like schrencki, but should be just a melanistic form of anomala according to the range. If it is not, then that would be a major find and you should record that somehow, if only to post it here. It could lead to some major discussion.

It looks like anomala is extrememly variable according to your discussion. I would think the "yellow" form you posted a pic of is a variant of anomala. Once again because of the range. It looks like it is just an aberrant form. Maybe the pattern starts to break up in certain localities. Other ratsnakes, such as E. quadrivirgata, are known to be extremely varaible in the Far East, including melanistic and island forms, etc. There is a form of Euprepiophis conspicillata on Tsusima (Japanese island close to ROK) that is a variant with an unusual pattern. There is a lot that could be learned in ROK. I think good field work has been really lacking from that country.

Cheers....Terry

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