Russian Ratsnake
| Manchurian Black Water Snake | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Genus: | Elaphe |
| Species: | E. schrenckii |
| Binomial name | |
| Elaphe schrenckii (Strauch, 1873) |
|
The Manchurian Black Water Snake, Amur Rat Snake, Korean Rat Snake, Russian Rat Snake, or Siberian Rat Snake exists in two varieties, since taxonomy changes in 2002:
Elaphe schrenki (most commonly known among hobbyists as the Russian Rat Snake) Elaphe anomala (Korean Rat Snake)
The northern, darker, most common variety is known to be more fearless, inquisitive & personable that its southern cousin, which is somewhat more nervous & shy.
It is found in the Amur River basin; in eastern Mongolia, southeastern Siberia, northuern Manchuria and Korea. It is the largest indigenous snake on the Korean Peninsula and is typically 140-180 cm long.
It is one variety of rat snake, feeding primarily on small mammals, birds & bird eggs. It is often found in wetlands, but is also found in a variety of other habitats such as rocky hillsides. It is a very good climber, found as high up in trees as 18 meters.
It is officially a protected species in Russia and South Korea.
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
[edit] External links
.png){kind=small} |
This snake article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
