Beauty Rat Snake
Elaphe taeniura
Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyColubridae (Colubrid Snakes)
- GenusElaphe (Northern Ratsnakes)
- SpeciesElaphe taeniura (Beauty Rat Snake)
About the Beauty Rat Snake
The beauty rat snake (Elaphe taeniura), also called the beauty ratsnake, the beauty snake, or the cave racer, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the eastern and southeastern regions of Asia. It is a long, thin, semi-arboreal species of snake with several recognized subspecies. This constrictor feeds on rodents, and though it is favored in some locations as a natural pest control or pet, it is also considered an invasive species in other locations.
Living about 15–25 years, the average length of the beauty rat snake (including the tail) is about 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m). The overall ground color is yellowish-brown to olive, becoming darker at the end of the tail. The skin on the back of the neck and head are uniform in color and the back is typically marked with two pairs of round black spots that meld together. Starting at the back corner of each eye, a black stripe reaches back to each corner of the mouth which is pale cream around the upper labial area.
Subspecies of this species include: Chinese beauty snake (Elaphe taeniura taeniura) – Native to China. This subspecies... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Beauty Rat Snake in Khao Sok National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Khao Sok National Park
Western Mangrove Cat Snake
Boiga melanota
Banded Keelback
Rhabdophis nigrocinctus
Red-tailed Green Ratsnake
Gonyosoma oxycephalum
Oriental Whipsnake
Ahaetulla prasina
Elegant Bronzeback
Dendrelaphis formosus
Triangle Keelback
Xenochrophis trianguligerus
Golden Tree Snake
Chrysopelea ornata
Laotian Wolf Snake
Lycodon laoensis
Chinese Ratsnake
Ptyas korros
Green Cat Snake
Boiga cyanea
Collared Reed Snake
Calamaria pavimentata
Banded Bronzeback
Dendrelaphis striatus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Khao Sok National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 2 | Taroko National Park | 🇹🇼 Taiwan | |
| 3 | Khao Luang National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 4 | Cuc Phuong National Park | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | |
| 5 | Kinabalu Park | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 6 | Taman Negara National Park | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 7 | Danum Valley Conservation Area | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 8 | Gunung Leuser National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 9 | Kaeng Krachan National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Beauty Rat Snake in Khao Sok National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Beauty Rat Snake sighting in Khao Sok National Park, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Beauty Rat Snake in Khao Sok National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Beauty Rat Snake in Khao Sok National Park in our monthly data.