The Oriental Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa) is a large, slender colubrid commonly found across South and Southeast Asia. It has a long, smooth-scaled body that varies in color from olive-brown to yellowish or gray, with a lighter underside. Adults can reach lengths of over 2 meters. This species is highly agile and often found in forests, farmlands, and near human settlements, where it plays an important ecological role by preying on rodents and other small vertebrates.
Oriental Rat Snake
Ptyas mucosa
🐍 Non-venomous
Description
Venomous?
Non-venomous. The Oriental Rat Snake kills its prey through constriction or direct swallowing rather than venom.
A Danger to Humans?
Generally non-aggressive and will flee if disturbed. However, when cornered, it may hiss loudly, inflate its neck, and strike defensively. Despite this behavior, it poses no real danger to humans.
Population Size
Stable
Life Span
-
WEIGHT
30.5 g
LENGTH
Average total length 2 m
Ar
Arboreal
Ca
Carnivore
Di
Diurnal
Te
Terrestrial
Classification
KINGDOM
:
Animalia
PHYLUM
:
Chordata
CLASS
:
Reptilia
ORDER
:
Squamata
FAMILY
:
Colubridae
GENUS
:
Ptyas
SPECIES
:
Ptyas mucosa
Distribution
In West Bali it can be found in monsoon forest areas and agricultural land in areas with low and high rainfall, up to 100 m above sea level. Elsewhere, it is found in a variety of habitats from rainforests to semi-arid scrubby areas at altitudes of 1300 m asl.
Geography
Continent : Asia
Country : Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, India including the Andaman Islands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Southeast Asia, South China including Hong Kong and Hainan Island. Taiwan, Sumatra, Java and Bali.
Habits and Lifestyle
The Oriental Rat Snake is a diurnal species that exhibits arboreal and terrestrial activity depending on foraging and resting needs. Behavior fast, alert and very quick to respond. When threatening, it creeps away from enemies and tries to hide in dark and narrow places like holes, cracks, thick bushes etc. In a cornered position it expands laterally and growls and can bite.
Lifestyle
Arboreal dan terrestrial.
Biome
Forest
Climate Zone
Tropical
Diet and Nutrition
Generally, this species preys on rats and toads; also eat birds, small mammals, other snakes, all kinds of lizards, eggs etc.
Diet : Carnivora
Mating Habits
Mating season of Oriental Rat Snake begins from winters and extends to start of monsoon. This begins with breeding male combats near water bodies. Combat is done by mutual winding of male bodies to make helix of posterior half and raised forebody where they try to show dominance over each other. After showing dominance and winning, the male performs mating ritual which is done in silent places away from human disturbance. Female lays upto 35 eggs in silent and dark places which are usually in caves, large mounds, between rocks and wood piles. Egg guarding and incubation is done by female till hatching. The period of incubation is around 60-80 days depending upon weather. Most of the new born seen during whole of monsoon and starting of winters.
Reproduction session : winter season
Incubation periods : 60 – 80 day
Independent age : at birth
Baby name : –
Baby carrying : 35 eggs
PHOTO GALLERY
Reference
- Ptyas mucosa India Biodiversity article
- Somaweera, R. 2017. A Naturalist’s Guide To The Reptiles and Amphibians of Bali. John Beaufoy Publishing, Oxford, England.
- McKay, J.L. 2006. Reptil and Amphibi di Bali. Krieger Publishing Company, Florida, USA.