Colubridae
Père David's Ratsnake
HarmlessElaphe davidi
3 photographs of the Père David's Ratsnake. (c) hlex, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Père David's Ratsnake (Elaphe davidi) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Père David's Ratsnake
Elaphe davidi, also known commonly as Pere David's rat snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to East Asia.
Etymology
The specific name, davidi, is in honor of Armand David, who was a French zoologist and priest.
Geographic range
E. davidi is found mainly in China, and its presence in North Korea is considered uncertain.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of E. davidi are forest and grassland, at altitudes of 100–900 m (330–2,950 ft), but it has also been found in agricultural areas such as orchards.
Diet
E. davidi preys upon frogs, lizards, and snakes. Captive specimens have also eaten mice.
Reproduction
E. davidi is oviparous. Eggs are laid in August, and clutch size is 7–8.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Père David's Ratsnake
- Is the Père David's Ratsnake venomous?
- No. The Père David's Ratsnake (Elaphe davidi) 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 Père David's Ratsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Père David's Ratsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Père David's Ratsnake dangerous?
- The Père David's Ratsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Père David's Ratsnake live?
- The Père David's Ratsnake has verified records in 1 country, including China. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Père David's Ratsnake eat?
- E. davidi preys upon frogs, lizards, and snakes. Captive specimens have also eaten mice.
- Why is it called the Père David's Ratsnake?
- The specific name, davidi, is in honor of Armand David, who was a French zoologist and priest.
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
- Elaphe
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Elaphe davidi
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.