Wildlifeof Nepal
Elaphe hodgsoni
Colubrid Snakes
Photo: (c) Karthik Thrikkadeeri, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Elaphe hodgsonii
Basic stats
Diet
Toads, skinks and rodents
Habitat
Forest at 1,500–5,000m; also agricultural and urban areas
Range
China (Tibet), India (Sikkim, Assam, Kashmir) and Nepal
Clutch size
About 6 eggs
Incubation period
About 130 days
Size
Up to about 1.2m including a 23cm tail
Hodgson's rat snake, or the Himalayan trinket snake, grows to about 1.2m in total length, including a tail of 23cm. It is brownish-olive above, with most scales black-edged, and the young have blackish crossbands. The lower parts are yellowish, with the outer margin of each belly scale blackish. The dorsal scales are in 23 rows, feebly keeled towards the rear (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is terrestrial and diurnal, and preys on toads, skinks and rodents. The preferred habitat is forest at altitudes of 1,500 to 5,000m, though it also lives in agricultural and urban areas. The female lays a clutch of about six eggs, which she guards, and they hatch in about 130 days. It is native to the Himalayan region, including Nepal.
Quick answers
- What does the Elaphe hodgsoni eat?
- Toads, skinks and rodents
- What habitat does the Elaphe hodgsoni live in?
- Forest at 1,500–5,000m; also agricultural and urban areas
- Where is the Elaphe hodgsoni found?
- China (Tibet), India (Sikkim, Assam, Kashmir) and Nepal
- How many eggs does the Elaphe hodgsoni lay?
- About 6 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the Elaphe hodgsoni incubated?
- About 130 days
- How big is the Elaphe hodgsoni?
- Up to about 1.2m including a 23cm tail