| Rhinoceros Ratsnake | |
|---|---|
| Rhinoceros ratsnake, Rhynchophis boulengeri | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Subclass: | Diapsida |
| Infraclass: | Lepidosauromorpha |
| Superorder: | Lepidosauria |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Infraorder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Rhynchophis |
| Species: | R. boulengeri |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhynchophis boulengeri (Mocquard, 1897) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Proboscidophis versicolor Fan, 1931 |
|
Rhinoceros Ratsnake (Rhynchophis boulengeri) also known as Rhinoceros Snake, Rhino Rat Snake, Vietnamese Longnose Snake,[3] Green Unicorn,[4] found from Northern Vietnam to Southern China, has a prominent, distinctive, scaled protrusion on the front of its snout which has led to its common naming after mythical unicorns and some species of rhinoceros which feature a single horn on the front of their snouts.[5][6] This species of ratsnake is named for Belgian-British biologist George Albert Boulenger.[7]
Contents |
Northern Vietnam including Tam Dao,[8] Southern China.[9] 10 specimens observed in Yên Bái Province, Northern Vietnam during a 2001 survey.[2]
Adult size 100-160 cm total length. Scale Count: Dorsals 19.[9]
Rhinoceros Ratsnakes inhabit subtropical rainforests at elevations between 300 and 1100 m, particularly valleys with streams. They are generally arboreal, and mostly nocturnal, hunting small mice and other rodents, birds and perhaps other vertebrate prey. Oviparous, its mating season from April to May may produce 5 to 10 eggs in a clutch. After 60 days' incubation, hatchlings are 30-35 cm total length, brownish grey with dark edges on several dorsal scales. As they mature Rhinoceros Ratsnakes change color to steel grey at about 12-14 months, then to a bluish green or green adult hue at about 24 month. However, a rare few individuals maintain their steel grey subadult color and do not pass into ordinarily mature color phase.[4][8]