Elaphe carinata
| King Ratsnake | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conservation status | |
| NE | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Genus: | Elaphe |
| Species: | E. carinata |
| Binomial name | |
| Elaphe carinata (Günther, 1864) | |
The King Ratsnake (also known as Taiwan Stink Snake), Elaphe carinata is a species of Colubrid snake found in Southeast Asia and East Asia.
Description
Elaphe carinata is a large snake with total length up to 240 cm (94 in). 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, with a very strong, bad odour.[1]
Elaphe carinata is an active, predatory snake that eats everything from beetles to birds to snakes, with particular preference for the latter.[1]
The common name of "King ratsnake" refers to its habit of eating other snakes, including venomous species such as the Chinese cobra and the sharp-nosed viper. It suffocates its prey by constriction, similar to the hunting technique of boas and pythons. It also preys on rodents and other small animals.
There is some concern among herpetoculturists that the King Ratsnake may actually be more closely related to the kingsnakes of the genus lampropeltis than to its current taxonomic family of the ratsnakes (elaphe). This is due in part to the dietary habits of the King Ratsnake, in particular its preference for ectothermic prey such as snakes and lizards, and to the physical structure of the head, which is far less distinct than that of most rat snakes and closely resembles the elongated head and indistinct neck structure of the kingsnakes.
Distribution: China, North Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan (Ryukyu Islands).[2]
Use
Elaphe carinata is one of major species in snake trade in China, particularly in skin trade but also of live animals.[3] In Taiwan, it is the most commonly available snake in restaurants.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Hans Breuer & William Christopher Murphy (2009-2010). "Elaphe carinata". Snakes of Taiwan. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- ↑ Elaphe carinata at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 15 October 2012.
- ↑ Zhou, Z.; Jiang, Z. (2004). "International trade status and crisis for snake species in China". Conservation Biology 18 (5): 1386–1394. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2004.00251.x.
- ↑ Corn Snakes and other Rat Snakes, Richard D. Bartlett, copyright 1996, Barron's Educational Series
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