Colubridae
Caucasian Ratsnake
HarmlessZamenis hohenackeri
6 photographs of the Caucasian Ratsnake. © GD.
The Caucasian Ratsnake (Zamenis hohenackeri) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 10 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Caucasian Ratsnake
The Transcaucasian ratsnake (Zamenis hohenackeri), also commonly known as the Gavand snake, is a species of nonvenomous ratsnake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to Western Asia and the Middle East. There are three recognized subspecies.
Etymology
The specific name, hohenackeri, is in honor of Rudolph Friedrich Hohenacker, who was a Swiss missionary, physician, and naturalist.
Geographic range
Zamenis hohenackeri is found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, southwestern Russia, Syria, and Turkey.
Description
Zamenis hohenackeri may attain a total length of 65 cm (26 in), which includes a tail 11 cm (4.3 in) long. Dorsally, it is gray with four alternating series of dark brown spots. Ventrally, it is reddish or yellowish, marbled or spotted with gray. On the head, there is a diagonal black streak from the eye to the corner of the mouth, and a vertical black line below the eye.
Habitat
Zamenis hohenackeri is found in mountainous areas, at altitudes of 100–3,000 m (330–9,840 ft), in a variety of habitats, from dry to wet, including agricultural areas.
Behavior
Zamenis hohenackeri is terrestrial and diurnal.
Reproduction
Zamenis hohenackeri is oviparous. Clutch size is 3–7 eggs.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Zamenis hohenackeri hohenackeri (Strauch, 1873)
Zamenis hohenackeri lyciensis Hofmann, Mebert, Schulz, Helfenberger, Göçmen & Böhme, 2018
Zamenis hohenackeri tauricus (F. Werner, 1898)
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Zamenis hohenackeri.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Caucasian Ratsnake
- Is the Caucasian Ratsnake venomous?
- No. The Caucasian Ratsnake (Zamenis hohenackeri) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Caucasian Ratsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Caucasian Ratsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Caucasian Ratsnake dangerous?
- The Caucasian Ratsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Caucasian Ratsnake live?
- The Caucasian Ratsnake has verified records in 10 countries, including Türkiye, Israel, Armenia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Caucasian Ratsnake?
- The specific name, hohenackeri, is in honor of Rudolph Friedrich Hohenacker, who was a Swiss missionary, physician, and naturalist.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Zamenis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Zamenis hohenackeri
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.