Copperhead Rat Snake

Coelognathus radiatus

🐍 Non-venomous

Description

The Copperhead Rat Snake (Coelognathus radiatus) is a medium to large-sized colubrid species found across South and Southeast Asia. It has a distinctive copper or bronze-colored head with a pale body marked by dark stripes or blotches along the sides. This species is agile and primarily terrestrial, often found in forests, agricultural lands, and near human settlements. It preys mainly on rodents, birds, and small reptiles, making it beneficial for pest control.

Venomous?

Non-venomous. The Copperhead Rat Snake does not possess venom harmful to humans and kills its prey by constriction.

A Danger to Humans?

Generally non-aggressive, but when threatened, it may display defensive behavior such as hissing, striking, or flattening its body to appear larger. It rarely bites unless provoked or handled roughly.

Population Size

Stable

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

30.5 g

LENGTH

1.6 m – 2.3 m

Ar

Arboreal

Ca

Carnivore

Di

Diurnal

Te

Terrestrial

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Chordata

CLASS

:

Reptilia

ORDER

:

Squamata

FAMILY

:

Colubridae

GENUS

:

Coelognathus

SPECIES

:

Coelognathus radiatus

Distribution

Copperhead Racer live in rainfall of Jembrana and coconut plantation on the east coast of Tanjung Bukit, both near sea level. Elsewhere known from a variety of forests, agricultural lands, and urban areas, up to 1500 m asl.

Geography

Continents : Asia

Country : India, Nepal, Bangladesh, southern China, southeast Asia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and Bali

Habits and Lifestyle

This species occurs in wet and dry forests, particularly in clearings and edges, and in grasslands, plantations, agricultural fields, and suburban and urban areas. It is often found in rural villages, where it consumes human commensalist rodents.

Lifestyle

Terrestrial and Arboreal

Biome

Forest

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

Copperhead Racer are carnivore. They are feeds on amphibians, lizards, birds, and mammals

Diet : Carnivora

Mating Habits

Copperhead Racer are oviparious. Females lay 5 – 15 eggs and may lay several clutch a year.

Reproduction session : Several year

Incubation periods : –

Independent age : at birth

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : 5 – 15 eggs

Population

Population status : Least Concern (LC)

NE

DD

LC

NT

VU

EN

CR

EW

EX

Population threats​

There are no apparent threats to this species. Although it is harvested for food and medicinal purposes, it is abundant and tolerant of human-modified habitats, and is probably not threatened globally by this practice. It may, however, be at risk from overexploitation in Indochina where it is either not protected or protection is not enforced

Population number​

Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution and presumed large overall population and, although it is subjected to intensive exploitation in many parts of its range, it remains common in modified habitats and is subject to a number of national protection measures that effectively limit the threat to this species from trade.

PHOTO GALLERY

Reference

  1. Copperhead Racer on The IUCN Red List site
  2. Somaweera, R. 2017. A Naturalist’s Guide To The Reptiles and Amphibians of Bali. John Beaufoy Publishing, Oxford, England.
  3. McKay, J.L. 2006. Reptil and Amphibi di Bali. Krieger Publishing Company, Florida, USA.