Colubridae
Keeled Rat Snake
HarmlessPtyas carinata
6 photographs of the Keeled Rat Snake. © Rainer Breitling.
The Keeled Rat Snake (Ptyas carinata) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 12 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Keeled Rat Snake
Ptyas carinata, commonly known as the keeled rat snake, also called King koros is a species of colubrid snake. It is found in Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Singapore. This little known species is probably the largest extant species in the diverse colubrid family that includes just over half of living snake species. Known adult lengths of snakes of this species in Taiwan measured anywhere from 1.21 to 2.75 m (4 ft 0 in to 9 ft 0 in). However, the reportedly maximum size was about 4 m (13 ft 1 in). Males reportedly average slightly larger than females. They are probably opportunistic predators on a variety of prey, such as rodents, though adult lizards are thought to be significant prey in Indonesia.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Keeled Rat Snake
- Is the Keeled Rat Snake venomous?
- No. The Keeled Rat Snake (Ptyas carinata) 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 Keeled Rat Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Keeled Rat Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Keeled Rat Snake dangerous?
- The Keeled Rat Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Keeled Rat Snake live?
- The Keeled Rat Snake has verified records in 12 countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand. See the distribution section below for its full range.
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 carinata
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.