Japanese Rat Snake
Elaphe climacophora
- Class
- Reptile
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 951
- Most observed in
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The Japanese rat snake (Elaphe climacophora) is a medium-sized colubrid snake found throughout the Japanese archipelago (except the far South West) as well as on the Russian-administered Kunashir Island. In Japanese it is known as the aodaishō or "blue general". It is non-venomous and is hunted by eagles and tanukis. The snakes brumate for three to four months, mate in spring and lay 7–20 eggs in early summer.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Japanese rat snake”.