Japanese striped snake

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Japanese four-lined ratsnake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Elaphe
Species:
E. quadrivirgata
Binomial name
Elaphe quadrivirgata
(H. Boie, 1826)
Synonyms
Elaphe quadrivirgata

The Japanese striped snake is a species of snake endemic to Japan.

Appearance[change | change source]

They are about 80~150 cm. Sometimes there are black types but usually they are light yellow. Their scales are not so big so they can't swallow big animals.

Living areas[change | change source]

They live in almost all areas of Japan (Hokkaido, Honsyuu, Shikoku, Kyuusyu, Osumi islands).

Food and Water[change | change source]

They mainly eat rats, birds, lizards, frogs, and snakes. They like reptiles and amphibians. They sometimes prey on one another.They drink water from their mouths.

Reproduction[change | change source]

They lay 4~16 eggs from July to August. Hatching period is 40~50 days.The eggs are usually under the soil,a gap in the stone wall, or under the fallen leaves.

Threats[change | change source]

Decreasing of Paddy field,forest, and Grassland as their habitat.

Relationship with humans[change | change source]

They are often seen in the rural area.They move on the ground so they are often run over by the car.

Color mutation often happens with them, so people sometimes have them as a pet.

References[change | change source]

  1. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.