Taiwan stink snake, "stink snake", "stinking goddess"
The King ratsnake (Elaphe carinata) is a large nonvenomous Colubrid snake found in Southeast and East Asia. The common name of "king ratsnake" refers to its habit of eating other snakes, including venomous species such as the Chinese cobra and the Sharp-nosed viper.
Di
DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
No
NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
Ca
CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
Ov
OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Te
TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
No
Non-venomousSo
SolitaryNo
Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withKing ratsnakes are large snakes with a total length of up to 240 cm (7.9 ft). They have square-shaped head, large eyes and heavily keeled scales. They are olive-brown to olive-yellow in color but some young individuals have dark markings all over their bodies. THeir other common names "stink snake" or "stinking goddess" refer to their highly developed post-anal glands which, when the snake is picked up, are frequently emptied, with a very strong, bad odor.
King ratsnakes are found in China, northern Vietnam, Taiwan, and Japan (Ryukyu Islands). These snakes can be found in lowland and mountainous areas. They inhabit forests, montane forests, thickly wooded areas, rocky valleys, rice paddies, and agricultural areas.
King ratsnakes are solitary creatures. They can be active during the day or night. They are very fast and are also very aggressive; they don't hesitate to strike and bite. King ratsnakes are active predators and suffocate their prey by constriction, similar to the hunting technique of boas and pythons.
King ratsnakes are carnivores. They eat everything from beetles to birds and especially favor other snakes. They also prey on rodents and other small animals.
King ratsnakes breed in spring. Females lay 8 to 20 eggs per clutch around July and protect them until they hatch.
One of the main threats to this species is habitat loss due to deforestation, degradation, and destruction. Another serious threat comes from humans. These snakes are extensively killed and collected for the exotic pet trade. The King ratsnake is one of the major species in the snake trade in China, particularly in the skin trade but also of live animals; it is the most commonly available snake in restaurants.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the King ratsnake total population size. However, in 2009 the overall population size of this species was estimated to be about 9,700,000 individuals. Currently, the King ratsnake is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, but its numbers today are decreasing.
