Colubridae
Chinese Green Snake
HarmlessPtyas major
6 photographs of the Chinese Green Snake. © Jay Paroline.
The Chinese Green Snake (Ptyas major) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 8 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Chinese Green Snake
The Chinese green snake (Ptyas major) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae.
Description
The Chinese green snake is a slender, medium-sized snake, averaging 75–90 cm (2½-3 feet) in total length, but occasionally growing to 120 cm (4 feet). Bright green above; ventral scales greenish-yellow. Dorsal scales smooth except that males have several mid-dorsal scale rows keeled. Some specimens have scattered black spots on dorsum. Dead specimens often turn bluish.
Distribution and habitat
The Chinese green snake can be found in central and southern China (Hainan, Henan, Gansu, Anhui, Sichuan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Hong Kong), Taiwan, northern Vietnam, Laos and Bangladesh (Sylhet, Ratargul Swamp Forest).
It is found in humid forests and farmland.
Behaviour and ecology
The Chinese green snake is diurnal and semi-arboreal. When encountered, they are mild-mannered and rarely bite.
Feeding
Their diet includes earthworms, insect larvae, and other soft-bodied invertebrates.
Reproduction
They are oviparous, laying 2–16 eggs per clutch. Young snakes hatch in about two months.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Chinese Green Snake
- Is the Chinese Green Snake venomous?
- No. The Chinese Green Snake (Ptyas major) 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 Chinese Green Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Chinese Green Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Chinese Green Snake dangerous?
- The Chinese Green Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Chinese Green Snake live?
- The Chinese Green Snake has verified records in 8 countries, including Chinese Taipei, China, Hong Kong. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Chinese Green Snake eat?
- Their diet includes earthworms, insect larvae, and other soft-bodied invertebrates.
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
- Ptyas
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Ptyas major
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.