Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Infraclass Lepidosauromorpha Scientific name Rhynchophis boulengeri Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Subclass Diapsida Superorder Lepidosauria Higher classification Rhynchophis | |
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Similar Rhynchophis, Snake, Reptile, Gonyosoma, Colubridae | ||
The rhinoceros ratsnake (Gonyosoma boulengeri), also known as rhinoceros snake, rhino rat snake, and Vietnamese longnose snake, is a species of nonvenomous ratsnake found from northern Vietnam to southern China. It has a prominent, distinctive, scaled protrusion on the front of its snout, which has led to its common naming after a rhinoceros.
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Etymology
The specific name, boulengeri, is in honor of Belgian-British biologist George Albert Boulenger.
Geographic range
R. boulengeri is found in northern Vietnam including Tam Dao, and in southern China. During a 2001 survey, 10 specimens observed in Yên Bái Province, northern Vietnam.
Description
Adult size of this snake is 100–160 cm (39–63 in) in total length (including tail). Its scale count includes 19 rows of dorsals at midbody.
Natural history
Rhinoceros ratsnakes inhabit subtropical rainforests at elevations between 300 and 1,100 m (980 and 3,610 ft), particularly valleys with streams. They are generally arboreal, and mostly nocturnal, hunting small mice and other rodents, birds, and perhaps other vertebrate prey. Oviparous, its mating season from April to May may produce five to 10 eggs in a clutch. After 60 days' incubation, hatchlings are 30–35 cm (12–14 in) total length, brownish grey with dark edges on several dorsal scales. As they mature, rhinoceros ratsnakes change color to steel grey at about 12–14 months, then to a bluish green or green adult hue at about 24 months. However, a rare few individuals maintain their steel grey subadult color and do not pass into ordinarily mature color phase.
