Indo-Chinese Rat Snake

The Indo-Chinese rat snake is a large, agile colubrid found throughout mainland Southeast Asia and southern China, closely related to the Indian rat snake but generally smaller and more slender in build.

It is non-venomous and not dangerous to humans, though it is quick and alert, often fleeing rapidly rather than confronting a disturbance.

It is a common species across much of its range, frequently found in agricultural and semi-open habitats.

The dorsal coloration is typically grayish-brown to olive, sometimes with faint darker crossbands most visible on the anterior body, fading to a more uniform tone posteriorly.

• Slender, elongated body
• Large head with round pupils
• Smooth to weakly keeled scales
• Long, tapering tail
• Adults typically reach 1.2-2.0 m

This species occupies open lowland habitats including rice paddies, grassland, scrubland, and forest edges across southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and parts of the Malay Peninsula.

The Indo-Chinese rat snake is diurnal and highly alert, capable of rapid movement to escape disturbance. It may also display defensively, raising the forebody and hissing when cornered.

It preys on rodents, frogs, and small reptiles, actively foraging on the ground. It is oviparous, laying clutches of roughly 5 to 12 eggs.