Japanese Four-lined Rat Snake

The Japanese four-lined rat snake, known locally as shimahebi, is one of the most common snakes in Japan, found throughout much of the archipelago in habitats ranging from farmland to suburban gardens. Its name refers to the four dark stripes typically running along its body.

This species is non-venomous and generally not aggressive, though it can be quick to flee or bite if startled.

Its abundance and tolerance of human-altered landscapes make it one of the more familiar snakes to residents of Japan.

The body is usually yellowish-brown to olive, marked with four dark longitudinal stripes running from behind the head to the tail, though the pattern can be faint or absent in some individuals, especially melanistic forms.

• Smooth dorsal scales
• Slender, moderately elongated body
• Round pupils
• Head only slightly distinct from the neck
• Adults typically reach 0.8-1.5 m

This species is found throughout most of Japan, including Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and many smaller islands, occupying grassland, farmland, forest edges, riverbanks, and suburban gardens.

The Japanese four-lined rat snake is diurnal and often seen basking or foraging in open areas. It can be quick to flee but may also strike defensively, sometimes with disproportionate vigor for its size, if cornered.

It preys on frogs, lizards, small mammals, and birds, subduing prey by constriction. It is oviparous, with females laying clutches of roughly 5 to 11 eggs in summer.