Wildlifeof Nepal
Oriental Rat Snake
Colubrid Snakes
Photo: (c) Oleg Kosterin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Ptyas mucosa
Basic stats
Diet
A variety of prey, including rodents
Habitat
Pale brown in dry regions to nearly black in moist forest; frequent in urban areas
Range
South and Southeast Asia, including Nepal
Clutch size
6–15 eggs
Size
Typically 1.5–1.95m; some over 2m; record 3.7m
The Oriental rat snake, or Indian rat snake, is a common non-venomous colubrid of South and Southeast Asia. Typical adults are about 1.5 to 1.95m long and some exceed 2m, with a record of 3.7m. Despite its length it is slender, and a 2m specimen is commonly only 4 to 6cm across. Colour varies from pale brown in dry regions to nearly black in moist forest (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is diurnal, semi-arboreal and fast-moving, and eats a variety of prey. It is frequently found in urban areas where rodents thrive. Females produce 6 to 15 eggs per clutch several weeks after mating. Its range is wide across South and Southeast Asia, from Afghanistan and Iran to southern China, and includes Nepal.
Quick answers
- What does the Oriental Rat Snake eat?
- A variety of prey, including rodents
- What habitat does the Oriental Rat Snake live in?
- Pale brown in dry regions to nearly black in moist forest; frequent in urban areas
- Where is the Oriental Rat Snake found?
- South and Southeast Asia, including Nepal
- How many eggs does the Oriental Rat Snake lay?
- 6–15 eggs
- How big is the Oriental Rat Snake?
- Typically 1.5–1.95m; some over 2m; record 3.7m