Elaphe
Encyclopedia
Elaphe is one of the main genera
of the rat snake
s, which are found in many regions of the northern hemisphere. Elaphe are medium to large constrictor
s by nature.
Most species
are nonvenomous. However, some species, such as Elaphe radiata
, are considered venomous. Although most of the species in Elaphe are nonvenomous, bites from rat snakes are still irritably painful and can potentially cause bacterial infections due to the saliva.
Due to the mitochondrial DNA analysis nowadays, many species of Elaphe have been moved to the genera Pantherophis
, Senticolis and Bogertophis
.
Nevertheless, the name Elaphe is still widely used.
s, Elaphe generally have slender but sturdy bodies, square heads and extremely flat bellies
Their sizes range from large medium to very large, growing even as large as 108 inches. Elaphe have large numbers of vertebrae, ribs and ventral scales but few rows of dorsal scales. The dorsal scales of Elaphe are characterized by having slight keels. In cross section Elaphe are shaped like a loaf of bread, the flat belly meeting the sides of the body at an angle. This special physical characteristic is well observed in Elaphe obsoleta whose belly scales curve upward. The curving of the ventral scales renders Elaphe better traction for tree climbing.
The color and pattern of Elaphe is quite variable and hard to be generalized. The following are the descriptions of the color and pattern for some Elaphe species. Elaphe guttata, or corn snake
s, have arrow-shaped blotches on the head and black squarish blotches on the ventral side. The underside of the tail is striped.
Adult black rat snake
s, one of the subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta, are shiny black on the dorsal side with some yellow, white and red on the skin between the scales. The anterior ventral side, the throat and the neck, is white, while the posterior ventral side of the snake is marked with black and brown.
The yellow rat snake
s, a subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta, differ from the black rat snake
s in that they have four bold longitudinal dark stripes. The background color ranges from dull to bright yellow.
Internally, Elaphe do not have any observable vestiges of hind limbs or coronoid bones of the lower jaw like any other members of the Colubridae family. Another important characteristic of Elaphe as part of the Colubridae is the presence of Duvernoy's gland
, a modified salivary and digestive gland.
In addition, Elaphe have equal and smooth maxillary teeth.
The teeth are small and slightly curved and are placed in several rows. The curvy teeth help fixate the prey and prevent them from escaping once they are caught.
s. In addition, the analysis of scents is carried out by Jacobson's organ in the palate. To stimulate Jacobson's organ, Elaphe use their tongues to transport air and ground molecules such that the molecules come into contact with Jacobson's organ. Then the organ analyzes the molecules to identify the scent. Among these detectable scents are pheromones, which indicate the presence of other snakes and their reproductive readiness.
however, some species like Elaphe guttata are able to live up to 23 years in captivity.
On the flip side, species like Elaphe emoryi usually have a lifespan of 2 years and 2 months.
Elaphe generally reach sexual maturity after 18–24 months. They usually mate with the opposite sex after emerging from hibernation
in the spring. The gestation
period of females is usually around 1.5 months, and the females can lay up to 30 eggs in a clutch, the amount varying between species (See the subsection of Reproduction). Species like Elaphe guttata and Elaphe obsoleta are mostly diurnal. However, some species are found more active in late afternoon or at dusk. Throughout the year, Elaphe are usually active from April to October, followed by a period of hibernation.
, especially those that live in cold regions. This is because snakes are cold-blooded, which makes their body temperature susceptible to the temperature change of the environments. Thus, they need to maintain their body energy by switching their living spots and remaining physiologically inactive when the winter comes.
The hibernacula sites vary depending on the habitats they live in, yet the most important requirement of a hibernaculum
site is that it needs to be frost-free. Some Elaphe like to hibernate in the rock crevices, rock faults, and underground burrows.
However, other Elaphe choose to hibernate in rotting logs, roots of trees and hollow spaces in elevated tree trunks. Some Elaphe that live close to human communities even hibernate in old wells and barns.
Most of the Elaphe start their hibernation
in October and emerge again the next Spring. The length of the hibernation
period varies among species. Elaphe longissima, or Aesculapian snake
s, hibernate from October to the next May due to their sensitivity to cold temperature.
However, Elaphe bimaculata
, or the twin-spotted rat snakes, only need to hibernate for 2 to 3 months.
Interestingly, species like black rat snake
s, or Elaphe obsoleta, like to hibernate with other rat snake
s and/or many other snake species, most notably timber rattlesnake
s, racers
, and bull snakes.
s, or Elaphe longissima, tend to pursue female snakes until they can coil around them. They continue in such position, which is then followed by dancing for up to an hour before copulation.During the copulation, the male snake will line up with the female and hold her in place by wrapping his tail around hers and grasping her with his mouth. Then, the male will evert one of his hemipenes into the female’s cloaca
. The mating process lasts from a few minutes to a few hours.
After copulation, Elaphe will seek an appropriate place to lay the developing eggs. They usually lay eggs in the soft heart of a rotten log or in sandy soil under a rock. A good place for laying eggs is one that is damp but not wet, and warm but not hot. After laying eggs, the female snake will cover them up with sand or dirt and leave.
A few species will stay with the eggs until they hatch about 9 weeks later.
Oviparous Elaphe obsoleta lay 12-20 eggs under logs or leaves in late summer, which hatch in the fall. The adult snakes return to their hibernation
dens in the late fall.
As for Elaphe guttata, they start to breed from March to May. The mating process is similar to Elaphe obsoleta. Elaphe guttata lay around 10-30 eggs in late May to July. The eggs are generally not protected by the adults. After 60–65 days the eggs hatch in July through September.
s. In general, the defense system of Elaphe can be broken down to two levels. The first line of defense involves specific behaviors that Elaphe use to warn the intruders. One of the most common ways is by coiling their bodies and vibrating their tails, which simulates a rattle. Fox snake
s, Elaphe vulpina and Elaphe gloydi, exemplify this type of defense mechanism: they mimic the rattling vibration of rattlesnakes when they encounter danger.
Another common way of defense is by smearing a foul-smelling musk
on their predators. The musk
is originated from the contents of the anal gland and the intestinal tract.
The second line of defense, generally involves striking the intruder with their teeth if they are further provoked.
Many species apply similar mechanisms when climbing trees.
s (i.e., mice and chipmunks), bird eggs and young birds. Juvenile Elaphe feed on small lizards, young mice and occasionally small frogs (i.e., tree frogs). Species like Elaphe guttata do not feed on a daily basis, but every few days. Elaphe hunt by waiting motionless in a fixed position until the prey comes near enough to attack. Then they strike the prey and bite it. They utilize Jacobson's organ to track and find their prey.
Being constrictor
s, Elaphe kill the prey by creating enormous pressure on the prey's chest. As they continue to coil more tightly, the pressure on the chest prevents the blood from circulating into the heart, which eventually leads to heart failure.
They usually bite the prey first to maintain their grip on the prey before they start this deadly mechanism. In addition, Elaphe do not chew their food but swallow it whole.
On the other hand, the yellow rat snakes, or Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata, prefer river swamps as habitat
s. Similarly, Everglades rat snakes, or Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni, live in the shrubs and trees along the water way.
The Elaphe snakes are spread throughout the northern hemisphere; however, there are some in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.
For instance, the black rat snakes, or Elaphe obsoleta ssp., are well distributed from Ontario, Canada to Florida and Texas.
The population of Elaphe guttata is widespread in many southeastern states of the United States including Florida, Louisiana, southern New Jersey and parts of Kentucky.
Genera that were formerly assigned to Elaphe include Bogertophis
, Coelognathus
, Euprepiophis
, Gonyosoma
, Orthriophis
, Pantherophis
, Pseudelaphe, Ptyas
, Rhadinophis, Rhynchophis, Senticolis and Zamenis
.
Genera
Genera is a commercial operating system and development environment for Lisp machines developed by Symbolics. It is essentially a fork of an earlier operating system originating on the MIT AI Lab's Lisp machines which Symbolics had used in common with LMI and Texas Instruments...
of the rat snake
Rat snake
Rat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
s, which are found in many regions of the northern hemisphere. Elaphe are medium to large constrictor
Constrictor
Constrictor may refer to:Biology:* Any snake that kills its prey by constriction* A boa constrictor, a large non-venomous boas found primarily in Central and South America.* A taxonomic synonym for Python, a.k.a...
s by nature.
Most species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are nonvenomous. However, some species, such as Elaphe radiata
Elaphe radiata
The Radiated Ratsnake or Copperhead Rat Snake, Coelognathus radiata, is a species of Colubrid snake.-Distribution:*Indonesia ,*Malaysia and Brunei ; Borneo,*Singapore Island,...
, are considered venomous. Although most of the species in Elaphe are nonvenomous, bites from rat snakes are still irritably painful and can potentially cause bacterial infections due to the saliva.
Due to the mitochondrial DNA analysis nowadays, many species of Elaphe have been moved to the genera Pantherophis
Pantherophis
Pantherophis is a genus of non-venomous colubrid snakes found in North and Central America. All are powerful constrictors and help control rodent populations.The species of Pantherophis were previously included in the genus Elaphe...
, Senticolis and Bogertophis
Bogertophis
Bogertophis is a genus of New World rat snakes found in the southwestern United States and into northern Mexico. There are two accepted species...
.
Nevertheless, the name Elaphe is still widely used.
Physical Characteristics
Like most of the rat snakeRat snake
Rat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
s, Elaphe generally have slender but sturdy bodies, square heads and extremely flat bellies
Their sizes range from large medium to very large, growing even as large as 108 inches. Elaphe have large numbers of vertebrae, ribs and ventral scales but few rows of dorsal scales. The dorsal scales of Elaphe are characterized by having slight keels. In cross section Elaphe are shaped like a loaf of bread, the flat belly meeting the sides of the body at an angle. This special physical characteristic is well observed in Elaphe obsoleta whose belly scales curve upward. The curving of the ventral scales renders Elaphe better traction for tree climbing.
The color and pattern of Elaphe is quite variable and hard to be generalized. The following are the descriptions of the color and pattern for some Elaphe species. Elaphe guttata, or corn snake
Corn Snake
The Corn Snake , or Red Rat Snake, is a North American species of Rat Snake that subdues its small prey by constriction. The name "Corn Snake" is a holdover from the days when southern farmers stored harvested ears of corn in a wood frame or log building called a crib...
s, have arrow-shaped blotches on the head and black squarish blotches on the ventral side. The underside of the tail is striped.
Adult black rat snake
Rat snake
Rat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
s, one of the subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta, are shiny black on the dorsal side with some yellow, white and red on the skin between the scales. The anterior ventral side, the throat and the neck, is white, while the posterior ventral side of the snake is marked with black and brown.
The yellow rat snake
Rat snake
Rat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
s, a subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta, differ from the black rat snake
Rat snake
Rat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
s in that they have four bold longitudinal dark stripes. The background color ranges from dull to bright yellow.
Internally, Elaphe do not have any observable vestiges of hind limbs or coronoid bones of the lower jaw like any other members of the Colubridae family. Another important characteristic of Elaphe as part of the Colubridae is the presence of Duvernoy's gland
Duvernoy's gland
The Duvernoy's gland is a gland found in some groups of colubrid snakes. It is distinguished from the venom gland and is not found in viperid or elapid snakes...
, a modified salivary and digestive gland.
In addition, Elaphe have equal and smooth maxillary teeth.
The teeth are small and slightly curved and are placed in several rows. The curvy teeth help fixate the prey and prevent them from escaping once they are caught.
Senses
Elaphe have very developed sensory organs which support their daily activities. They have an internal ear that enables them to detect sounds at low frequencies. The ear consists of a single ear bone connected to a jaw bone. Compared to other snakes, Elaphe are considered to have highly developed vision that allows them to detect the movement of their predators and prey. The eyes are protected by single transparent brilleBrille
The brille is the layer of transparent, immovable disc-shaped skin or scale covering the eyes of some animals for protection, especially in animals without eyelids. The brille has evolved from a fusion of the upper and lower eyelids...
s. In addition, the analysis of scents is carried out by Jacobson's organ in the palate. To stimulate Jacobson's organ, Elaphe use their tongues to transport air and ground molecules such that the molecules come into contact with Jacobson's organ. Then the organ analyzes the molecules to identify the scent. Among these detectable scents are pheromones, which indicate the presence of other snakes and their reproductive readiness.
Life Cycle and Behaviors
The lifespan of Elaphe is generally 15 years. Males live a little longer than females;however, some species like Elaphe guttata are able to live up to 23 years in captivity.
On the flip side, species like Elaphe emoryi usually have a lifespan of 2 years and 2 months.
Elaphe generally reach sexual maturity after 18–24 months. They usually mate with the opposite sex after emerging from hibernation
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
in the spring. The gestation
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
period of females is usually around 1.5 months, and the females can lay up to 30 eggs in a clutch, the amount varying between species (See the subsection of Reproduction). Species like Elaphe guttata and Elaphe obsoleta are mostly diurnal. However, some species are found more active in late afternoon or at dusk. Throughout the year, Elaphe are usually active from April to October, followed by a period of hibernation.
Hibernation
Elaphe have the habit of hibernationHibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
, especially those that live in cold regions. This is because snakes are cold-blooded, which makes their body temperature susceptible to the temperature change of the environments. Thus, they need to maintain their body energy by switching their living spots and remaining physiologically inactive when the winter comes.
The hibernacula sites vary depending on the habitats they live in, yet the most important requirement of a hibernaculum
Hibernaculum
Hibernaculum can refer to:* Hibernaculum , the location chosen by an animal for hibernation...
site is that it needs to be frost-free. Some Elaphe like to hibernate in the rock crevices, rock faults, and underground burrows.
However, other Elaphe choose to hibernate in rotting logs, roots of trees and hollow spaces in elevated tree trunks. Some Elaphe that live close to human communities even hibernate in old wells and barns.
Most of the Elaphe start their hibernation
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
in October and emerge again the next Spring. The length of the hibernation
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
period varies among species. Elaphe longissima, or Aesculapian snake
Aesculapian Snake
The Aesculapian Snake is a nonvenomous snake native to Europe.-Description:They hatch at around 30 cm and average at around 110 cm but can grow up to 200 cm . They are dark, long, slender, and shiny...
s, hibernate from October to the next May due to their sensitivity to cold temperature.
However, Elaphe bimaculata
Elaphe bimaculata
Elaphe bimaculata, the Twin-spotted Ratsnake or Chinese Cornsnake, is a small ratsnake found in China. It occurs as both blotched and striped phase, with the blotched type being the more common or "typical" phase. Some specimens even exhibit a pattern of half blotched, half striped where the...
, or the twin-spotted rat snakes, only need to hibernate for 2 to 3 months.
Interestingly, species like black rat snake
Rat snake
Rat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
s, or Elaphe obsoleta, like to hibernate with other rat snake
Rat snake
Rat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
s and/or many other snake species, most notably timber rattlesnake
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnakes are a group of venomous snakes of the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae . There are 32 known species of rattlesnake, with between 65-70 subspecies, all native to the Americas, ranging from southern Alberta and southern British Columbia in Canada to Central...
s, racers
Racers
Racers may refer to:* Lego Racers, a product range of the Lego construction toy* Akron Racers, a women's softball team* Elgin Racers, a franchise of the International Basketball League* Harringay Racers, a British ice hockey club...
, and bull snakes.
Reproduction
Black rat snakes, or Elaphe obsoleta, generally start to mate in late April, May and early June after the winter hibernation. Males tend to attract females with pheromones as the females pass through their territories. Interestingly, male Aesculapian snakeAesculapian Snake
The Aesculapian Snake is a nonvenomous snake native to Europe.-Description:They hatch at around 30 cm and average at around 110 cm but can grow up to 200 cm . They are dark, long, slender, and shiny...
s, or Elaphe longissima, tend to pursue female snakes until they can coil around them. They continue in such position, which is then followed by dancing for up to an hour before copulation.During the copulation, the male snake will line up with the female and hold her in place by wrapping his tail around hers and grasping her with his mouth. Then, the male will evert one of his hemipenes into the female’s cloaca
Cloaca
In zoological anatomy, a cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, reproductive, and urinary tracts of certain animal species...
. The mating process lasts from a few minutes to a few hours.
After copulation, Elaphe will seek an appropriate place to lay the developing eggs. They usually lay eggs in the soft heart of a rotten log or in sandy soil under a rock. A good place for laying eggs is one that is damp but not wet, and warm but not hot. After laying eggs, the female snake will cover them up with sand or dirt and leave.
A few species will stay with the eggs until they hatch about 9 weeks later.
Oviparous Elaphe obsoleta lay 12-20 eggs under logs or leaves in late summer, which hatch in the fall. The adult snakes return to their hibernation
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
dens in the late fall.
As for Elaphe guttata, they start to breed from March to May. The mating process is similar to Elaphe obsoleta. Elaphe guttata lay around 10-30 eggs in late May to July. The eggs are generally not protected by the adults. After 60–65 days the eggs hatch in July through September.
Defense Mechanisms
Many species of Elaphe are known for being non-aggressive and shy. They are prone to freeze their movements when they are shocked or encountering danger. This motionless response has contributed to many road kills of Elaphe. However, some specific Elaphe tend to be more defensive if they are continually provoked. For example, Texas rat snakes, or Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri, are well known as one of the most snappy and combative rat snakeRat snake
Rat snakes are medium to large constrictors that can be found through a great portion of the northern hemisphere. They feed primarily on rodents and birds and, with some species exceeding 3 m , they can occupy top levels of some food chains. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one,...
s. In general, the defense system of Elaphe can be broken down to two levels. The first line of defense involves specific behaviors that Elaphe use to warn the intruders. One of the most common ways is by coiling their bodies and vibrating their tails, which simulates a rattle. Fox snake
Fox Snake
Fox snake is the common name given to two species of North American rat snakes. Neither is any threat to humans. Unfortunately, due to the striking resemblance to the Massasauga rattlesnake , it is killed by many people who mistake it for the Massasauga.The eastern fox snake is...
s, Elaphe vulpina and Elaphe gloydi, exemplify this type of defense mechanism: they mimic the rattling vibration of rattlesnakes when they encounter danger.
Another common way of defense is by smearing a foul-smelling musk
Musk
Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. They include glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odors. Musk was a name originally given to a substance with a...
on their predators. The musk
Musk
Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. They include glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odors. Musk was a name originally given to a substance with a...
is originated from the contents of the anal gland and the intestinal tract.
The second line of defense, generally involves striking the intruder with their teeth if they are further provoked.
Locomotion
Elaphe move forward using side-to-side serpentine movement. They use the curvy ventral scales of their bodies to grab the rough ground surfaces and then push against the ground to generate a forward movement. Thus, the smoother the ground is the harder it is for Elaphe to move across it.Many species apply similar mechanisms when climbing trees.
Predation
Adult Elaphe primarily prey on rodentRodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s (i.e., mice and chipmunks), bird eggs and young birds. Juvenile Elaphe feed on small lizards, young mice and occasionally small frogs (i.e., tree frogs). Species like Elaphe guttata do not feed on a daily basis, but every few days. Elaphe hunt by waiting motionless in a fixed position until the prey comes near enough to attack. Then they strike the prey and bite it. They utilize Jacobson's organ to track and find their prey.
Being constrictor
Constrictor
Constrictor may refer to:Biology:* Any snake that kills its prey by constriction* A boa constrictor, a large non-venomous boas found primarily in Central and South America.* A taxonomic synonym for Python, a.k.a...
s, Elaphe kill the prey by creating enormous pressure on the prey's chest. As they continue to coil more tightly, the pressure on the chest prevents the blood from circulating into the heart, which eventually leads to heart failure.
They usually bite the prey first to maintain their grip on the prey before they start this deadly mechanism. In addition, Elaphe do not chew their food but swallow it whole.
Habitat and Distribution
Elaphe live in a great variety of environments. The variation of habitat depends on different species and subspecies. Most are terrestrial or semi-arboreal , but some burrow in sand or loose soil. For example, the black rat snakes, or Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta, prefer heavily wooded habitats due to their excellent tree climbing ability. Their population can be distributed throughout all elevations, usually on rocky hillsides of mountains or on flat farmlands.On the other hand, the yellow rat snakes, or Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata, prefer river swamps as habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s. Similarly, Everglades rat snakes, or Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni, live in the shrubs and trees along the water way.
The Elaphe snakes are spread throughout the northern hemisphere; however, there are some in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.
For instance, the black rat snakes, or Elaphe obsoleta ssp., are well distributed from Ontario, Canada to Florida and Texas.
The population of Elaphe guttata is widespread in many southeastern states of the United States including Florida, Louisiana, southern New Jersey and parts of Kentucky.
Old World
- "Bella" Rat Snake (Elaphe bella)
- Twin Spotted Rat Snake (Elaphe bimaculataElaphe bimaculataElaphe bimaculata, the Twin-spotted Ratsnake or Chinese Cornsnake, is a small ratsnake found in China. It occurs as both blotched and striped phase, with the blotched type being the more common or "typical" phase. Some specimens even exhibit a pattern of half blotched, half striped where the...
) - Cantor's Rat Snake (Elaphe cantoris)
- King Rat Snake (Elaphe carinataElaphe carinataThe King Ratsnake or Keeled Ratsnake Elaphe carinata is a species of Colubrid snake found in Southeast Asia.-Description:The other common names "stink snake" or "stinking goddess" refer to this species' highly developed post-anal glands which, when the snake is picked up, are frequently emptied,...
) - Japanese Rat Snake (Elaphe climacophora)
- Japanese Forest Rat Snake (Elaphe conspicillataElaphe conspicillataThe Japanese Forest Rat Snake, Elaphe conspicillata reaches 70 to 100 centimeters in length. The Japanese name, jimuguri, roughly translates to "the burrower"...
) - David's Rat Snake (Elaphe davidi)
- Dione Rat Snake (Elaphe dione)
- Philippine Rat Snake (Elaphe erythrura)
- Yellow-Striped Rat Snake (Elaphe flavolineataElaphe flavolineataBlack Copper Rat Snake or Yellow striped Snake is a species of snake.-Distribution:-References:* Boulenger, George A. 1894 Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum . Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. British Mus. , London, xi, 382 pp.* Das, I...
) - Rein Snake (Elaphe frenata)
- Trinket Snake (Elaphe helenaElaphe helenaTrinket Snake, Coelognathus helenus, is a non-venomous constrictor species of colubrid snake native to south Central Asia.-Distribution:Sri Lanka, Southern India, Pakistan , Nepal, BangladeshType locality: India: Vishakhapatnam ....
) - Hodgson's Rat Snake (Elaphe hodgsoni)
- Transcaucasian Rat Snake (Elaphe hohenackeri)
- Celebes Black-Tailed Rat Snake (Elaphe janseni)
- Italian Aesculapian Snake (Elaphe lineata = Zamenis lineatus)
- Aesculapian Snake (Elaphe longissima)
- Mandarin Rat Snake (Elaphe mandarinaElaphe mandarinaThe Mandarin Rat Snake, Elaphe mandarina, is a species of snake found in Asia. It is a relatively small rat snake; adult size is 1 m or less. It is closely related to Elaphe conspicillata, the Japanese Forest Rat Snake.-Distribution:...
) - Moellendorff's Rat Snake (Elaphe moellendorffi)
- Red-Tailed Green Rat Snake (Elaphe [Gonyosoma] oxycephala)
- Pearl-Banded Rat Snake (Elaphe perlacea)
- Persian Rat Snake (Elaphe persica)
- Red Mountain Rat Snake (Elaphe porphyraceaElaphe porphyraceaOreocryptophis porphyracea is a rat snake species, commonly called the black-banded trinket snake, red bamboo snake or red mountain racer, found in mid to upper-level elevations of forested hills in Asia, ranging from evergreen tropical to dry seasonal forests depending on the subspecies and...
) - Green Bush Rat Snake (Elaphe prasinaElaphe prasinaGreen Trinket Snake, Green Bush Rat Snake or Green Ratsnake Elaphe prasina is a species of colubrid snake found in Asia.-Description:...
) - Japanese Four-Lined Rat Snake (Elaphe quadrivirgata)
- Four-Lined Snake (Elaphe quatuorlineataElaphe quatuorlineataElaphe quatuorlineata or the Four-lined Snake is Europe's largest non-venomous colubrid species.-Geographic range:It can be found in southern Europe, mostly in Italy and the Balkans from Croatia to Greece.-Description:...
) - Copperhead Rat Snake (Elaphe radiataElaphe radiataThe Radiated Ratsnake or Copperhead Rat Snake, Coelognathus radiata, is a species of Colubrid snake.-Distribution:*Indonesia ,*Malaysia and Brunei ; Borneo,*Singapore Island,...
) - Red-Backed Rat Snake (Elaphe rufodorsata)
- Ladder Snake (Elaphe scalaris)
- Amur Rat Snake (Elaphe schrenckii)
- Leopard Snake (Elaphe situla)
- Indonesian Rat Snake (Elaphe subradiata)
- Beauty Snake (Elaphe taeniura)
New World
- Baird's Rat Snake (Elaphe bairdi)
- Mexican Night Snake (Elaphe flavirufa)
- Eastern Fox Snake (Elaphe gloydi)
- Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata)
- Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)
- Santa Rosalia Rat Snake (Elaphe rosaliae = Bogertophis rosaliae)
- Trans-Pecos Rat Snake (Elaphe subocularis = Bogertophis subocularisBogertophis subocularisThe Trans-Pecos rat snake is a medium to large , nonvenomous rat snake native to the Chihuahuan Desert, that extends northward into Texas. It has a row of small scales between the lower border of the eye and the upper labials. This is a beautiful snake, yellow to tan dorsally with a series of...
) - Green Rat Snake (Elaphe triaspis = Senticolis triaspisSenticolis triaspisSenticolis triaspis, also known as green rat snake, is a long , green or olive green snake with the light yellow ventral side. They usually inhabit evergreen forests and grassland. They are well distributed in the Baboquivari, Pajarito, Atascosa, Santa Rita, Empire, Patagonia, Chiricahua,...
) - Western Fox Snake (Elaphe vulpina)
Genera that were formerly assigned to Elaphe include Bogertophis
Bogertophis
Bogertophis is a genus of New World rat snakes found in the southwestern United States and into northern Mexico. There are two accepted species...
, Coelognathus
Coelognathus
Coelognathus is a genus of five ratsnakes that were formerly assigned to Elaphe. Based on DNA evidence Utiger et al. elected to create this genus in 2002.Species include:...
, Euprepiophis
Euprepiophis
Euprepiophis is a genus containing two Asian rat snakes that were formerly assigned to the genus Elaphe. They were separated from Elaphe in 2002 by Utiger et al. following evidence from DNA analysis...
, Gonyosoma
Gonyosoma
Gonyosoma is a genus of colubrid snakes.There are a few distinct morphological characteristics that distinguish Gonyosoma from Elaphe.In scutellation there are 2-3 supralabials that contact the eye, with typically two in G. oxycephalum,...
, Orthriophis
Orthriophis
Orthriophis is a genus of four ratsnakes that were formerly assigned to Elaphe. Based on DNA evidence Utiger et al. elected to create this genus in 2002...
, Pantherophis
Pantherophis
Pantherophis is a genus of non-venomous colubrid snakes found in North and Central America. All are powerful constrictors and help control rodent populations.The species of Pantherophis were previously included in the genus Elaphe...
, Pseudelaphe, Ptyas
Ptyas
Ptyas is a genus of colubrid snakes. This genus is one of several colubrid genera colloquially called "rat snakes" or "ratsnakes".-Species:Eight species are recognized.* Ptyas carinata – king korros...
, Rhadinophis, Rhynchophis, Senticolis and Zamenis
Zamenis
Zamenis is a genus of snake in the Colubridae family.It contains the following species:* Transcaucasian ratsnake * Italian Aesculapian Snake * Aesculapian Snake...
.