Indian rat snake, 'darash', dhaman, ghora pachar
The Oriental ratsnake (Ptyas mucosa) is a common non-venomous species of colubrid snake found in South and Southeast Asia. It is the second largest snake in Sri Lanka, after the Indian rock python. Rat snakes are diurnal, semi-arboreal and fast-moving. They eat a variety of prey and are frequently found in urban areas where rodents thrive.
Despite their large size, Oriental ratsnakes are usually quite slender. Their color varies from pale browns in dry regions to nearly black in moist forest areas. The lower surface is yellowish; the posterior is ventral and the caudal shields may be edged with black.
Oriental ratsnakes are found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China (Zhejiang, Hubei, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Tibet, Hong Kong, Taiwan), India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Bali), Iran, Laos, West Malaysia, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan (Sindh area), Thailand, Turkmenistan, Vietnam, Nepal. They inhabit forest floors, wetlands, rice paddies, farmland, and suburban areas.
Oriental ratsnakes are solitary creatures. They are diurnal and semi-arboreal. Although these snakes are harmless to humans, they are fast-moving and very excitable. In captivity individuals remain highly territorial and may continue to defend their turf aggressively, attempting to startle or strike at passing objects. When threatened, adults emit a growling sound and inflate their necks. If captured, they will try to bite.
Oriental ratsnakes are carnivores. They prey upon small reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.
Oriental ratsnakes mate in late spring and early summer, though in tropical areas reproduction may take place year-round. During this time males establish boundaries of territory using a ritualized test of strength in which they intertwine their bodies. The behavior is sometimes misread by observers as a 'mating dance' between opposite-sex individuals. Females produce 6-15 eggs per clutch several weeks after mating. The incubation period lasts around 60 days. The young measure 36-41 cm in total length and are completely independent at birth.
Oriental ratsnakes are aggressively hunted by humans in some areas of their range for skins and meat. Due to their defensive behavior, Oriental ratsnakes often resemble the King cobra or Indian cobra; this often backfires in human settlements, though, as the harmless animal is then mistaken for a venomous snake and killed.
According to IUCN Red List, the Eastern fox snake is locally common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
