Mandarin rat snake

The Mandarin rat snake (Euprepiophis mandarinus) is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to Asia. It is closely related to Euprepiophis conspicillata, the Japanese forest rat snake. Mandarin rat snakes are one of the most popular rat snakes found in the pet trade.

Mandarin rat snake
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Euprepiophis
Species:
E. mandarinus
Binomial name
Euprepiophis mandarinus
(Cantor, 1842)
Synonyms[2]
  • Coluber mandarinus Cantor, 1842
  • Ablabes pavo Annandale, 1912
  • Elaphe mandarinus — Stejneger, 1925
  • Elaphe takasago Takahashi, 1930
  • Holarchus roulei Angel & Bourret, 1933
  • Elaphe mandarina — M.A. Smith, 1943
  • Euprepiophis mandarinus
    — Utiger et al., 2002
  • Euprepiophis mandarinus
    — Gumprecht, 2003

Description

It is a relatively small rat snake; adult size is 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) or less in total length (body + tail).[3]

Distribution

India (Arunachal Pradesh), Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan, China (Anhui, Beijing, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Shaanxi, Shanghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin, Tibet, Yunnan, Zhejiang)[1]

Type locality: China: Chekiang, Chusan island (modern transliteration: Zhejiang, Zhoushan) (Cantor, 1842).[2]

Taxonomy

In recent years there has been some taxonomic controversy over the genera of rat snakes. Based on mitochondrial DNA, Utiger et al. (2002)[4] argued for a splintering of the genus Elaphe and suggested a reworking of the genera.[5]

Natural history

The Mandarin rat snake is a secretive species, often using rodent burrows for shelter. It feeds primarily on small rodents, prefers cooler temperatures, and is predominately crepuscular. It occurs from sea level to at least 3,000 m (9,800 ft).

References
  1. Ji, X.; Wang, Y. & Guo, P. (2012). "Euprepiophis mandarinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T192138A2045703. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192138A2045703.en.
  2. Euprepiophis mandarinus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 21 October 2012.
  3. Hans Breuer & William Christopher Murphy (2009–2010). "Euprepiophis mandarina". Snakes of Taiwan].
  4. Utiger, Urs; Notker Helfenberger; Beat Schätti; Catherine Schmidt; Markus Ruf & Vincent Ziswiler (2002). "Molecular systematics and phylogeny of Old World and New World ratsnakes, Elaphe Auct., and related genera (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae)" (PDF). Russian Journal of Herpetology. 9 (2): 105–124.
  5. Elaphe obsoleta Archived 2009-04-14 at the Wayback Machine at The Center for North American Herpetology. Accessed 20 June 2008.

Further reading
  • Boulenger, G. A. 1894. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers.) xi + 382 pp. + Plates I.- XX. (Coluber mandarinus, pp. 42–43.)
  • Cantor, T. 1842. General Features of Chusan, with remarks on the Flora and Fauna of that Island. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. [Series 1] 9: 265-278, 361-370, 481-493. (Coluber mandarinus, p. 483.)
  • Gumprecht, A. 2002. Elaphe mandarina (Cantor). Sauria (Suppl.) 24 (3): 565-568.
  • Gumprecht, A. 2003. Anmerkungen zu den Chinesischen Kletternattern der Gattung Elaphe (sensu lato) Fitzinger 1833. Reptilia (Münster) 8 (6): 37-41.
  • Lenk, P.; Joger, U. & Wink, M. 2001. Phylogenetic relationships among European ratsnakes of the genus Elaphe Fitzinger based on mitochondrial DNA sequence comparisons. Amphibia-Reptilia 22 (3): 329-339.
  • Purser, P.A. 2003. Elaphe mandarinus. Reptilia (GB) (31): 30-33.
  • Schulz, K.D. 1996. Eine Monographie der Schlangengattung Elaphe Fitzinger. Bushmaster, Berg (CH): 1-460.
  • Schulz, Klaus-Dieter 1996. A monograph of the colubrid snakes of the genus Elaphe Fitzinger. Koeltz Scientific Books, 439 pp.
  • Smith, M.A. 1943. The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers.) xii + 583 pp. (Elaphe mandarina, pp. 157–158.)
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