Don:
You are correct about the recent elevation of anomala to species level. Utiger had an article in the Russian Journal of Herpetology (RJH) a few years ago that analyzed mtDNA from almost all the ratsnakes (old and new world). He decided based on this evidence that schrencki and anomala were separate (but obviously very closely related) species. Schulz mentions schrencki that look entirely black on the anterior (top) surface but does not discuss melanistic anomala. Schulz shows anomala ranging through the Korean peninsula but only one locale in North Korea for schrencki. I've seen anomala that resembled your first photo of anomala but I've never seen one like that second anomala.

I'll bet you're right about the island climate having something to do with the melanistic appearance. I also wonder if that snake would qualify as schrencki or anomala. If it is schrencki it probably will qualify as a range extension for the species. Very cool find!

I don't know any of the details of the albinos.

Best regards
John

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