Does the Oriental Rat Snake bite people? Understanding its temperament and habits in one article
The Oriental Rat Snake is a relatively large snake of the genus Ptyas in the family Colubridae. Adults can reach a total length of more than 2.5 m. The back is greenish-brown or brownish-black and brown; there is a yellow longitudinal stripe down the center of the back, and two black longitudinal stripes on each side of the body. It is widely distributed in China and usually feeds on frogs, lizards, fish, rodents, and so on. Let us take a look below at whether the Oriental Rat Snake bites people!
Does the Oriental Rat Snake bite people?
The Oriental Rat Snake is a docile snake and does not bite when it has not been attacked. Wild Oriental Rat Snakes live in hilly areas below 1600 m in altitude. They move quickly, react agilely, and are good at fleeing. They are usually docile and do not bite people, but like many snakes, they bite only when cornered or when caught and excessively frightened.
Is the Oriental Rat Snake venomous?
The Oriental Rat Snake is not venomous. The Oriental Rat Snake is a relatively large non-venomous snake, with a total length reaching more than 2.5 m. It is often found near farmland and ditches, and sometimes in villages. Due to habitat destruction and large-scale human hunting, the number surviving in the wild has greatly decreased, and it should be protected. It is mainly distributed in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and other places in southern China; it is also found in southern Anhui and Henan, but the yield there is very small.
Types and Distribution of the Oriental Rat Snake
1. Common Oriental Rat Snake: The common Oriental Rat Snake is a relatively large non-venomous snake of the genus Ptyas in the family Colubridae, with a total length reaching more than 2 m. The head is flat and round, and the boundary between the head and neck is not obvious. The internasal scales are wider than long, the prefrontal scales are large, the frontal scale is large in front and small behind, the supraocular scales are broad, and the nostrils are oval. The body scales are in 16-14 rows, the ventral scales are 186-205, the tail gradually tapers, and the body is bluish-gray-brown, with the edges of each scale dark brown. It is distributed in East China, South China, Southwest China, and Hunan, Hubei, Shanxi, Hebei, and other places.
2. Black Reticulated Oriental Rat Snake: The Black Reticulated Oriental Rat Snake is a relatively large non-venomous snake of the genus Ptyas in the family Colubridae, with a total length reaching 2.5 m. There is a yellow longitudinal stripe down the center of the back, and two black longitudinal stripes on each side of the body, which disappear toward the rear of the body. It inhabits middle and low mountain areas below 1600 m in altitude and is often found near farmland and ditches. It is distributed in India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Yunnan and other places in mainland China.
3. Black-striped Oriental Rat Snake: The Black-striped Oriental Rat Snake is a relatively large non-venomous snake of the genus Ptyas in the family Colubridae, with a body length of 120-200 cm. Males are larger and females smaller. The top of the head is yellow-green, with two black longitudinal lines on each side. In juveniles, the longitudinal stripes run the entire length of the body, and as they age they gradually disappear from the front part of the body. The ventral surface is pale yellow, with black longitudinal stripes on both sides. It is distributed in Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet, Guizhou in China, as well as some countries in Southeast Asia.