Japanese striped snake

The Japanese striped snake is a species of snake endemic to Japan.

Japanese four-lined ratsnake
Scientific classification
Unrecognized taxon (fix):	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Elaphe
Species:	E. quadrivirgata
Binomial name
Elaphe quadrivirgata (H. Boie, 1826)
Synonyms
Coluber quadrivirgatus H.Boie, 1826 Composoma quadrivirgatum — A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Elaphis quadrivirgatus — Günther, 1858 Coluber quadrivirgatus — Boulenger, 1894 Elaphe quadrivirgata — Stejneger, 1907

Elaphe quadrivirgata

Appearance

They are about 80~150 cm. Sometimes there are black types but usually they are light yellow. Their scales are not so big so they can't swallow big animals.

Living areas

They live in almost all areas of Japan (Hokkaido, Honsyuu, Shikoku, Kyuusyu, Osumi islands).

Food and Water

They mainly eat rats, birds, lizards, frogs, and snakes. They like reptiles and amphibians. They sometimes prey on one another.They drink water from their mouths.

Reproduction

They lay 4~16 eggs from July to August. Hatching period is 40~50 days.The eggs are usually under the soil,a gap in the stone wall, or under the fallen leaves.

Threats

Decreasing of Paddy field,forest, and Grassland as their habitat.

Relationship with humans

They are often seen in the rural area.They move on the ground so they are often run over by the car.

Color mutation often happens with them, so people sometimes have them as a pet.