Green Rat Snake

About the Green Rat Snake

Ptyas nigromarginata, commonly known as the green rat snake or black-bordered rat snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to parts of Southeast Asia, including regions of China, India, Myanmar, and Vietnam. This slender, agile snake is characterized by its striking green coloration, often accompanied by a distinctive black border along its dorsal scales.

P. nigromarginata is found in Bhutan, Nepal, India (Darjeeling, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland), northern Bangladesh, northern Myanmar (Burma), China (Guizhou, Yunnan, southwestern Sichuan, southeastern Xizang (Tibet]), and possibly northern Vietnam. The type locality is Darjeeling, India.

It has been recorded from elevations between 500m to 2300m. A large snake, P. nigromarginata may attain a total length of 2.26 m (7.4 ft), which includes a tail 0.65 m (2.1 ft) long. Dorsally, it is green, with each dorsal scale edged in black. The top of the head is brownish. In adults, there are four broad black stripes on the posterior third of the body and on the tail. In juveniles the stripes extend the full length of the body and tail. Ventrally, it is... Wikipedia →