Reptile · GBIF taxon 2458390
Japanese Rat Snake
Elaphe climacophoraAlso known as Aodaisho, Blue General Snake
Japanese rat snakes are versatile semi-arboreal hunters found across forests, farmlands, and suburban habitats throughout Japan. Adults feature soft olive-green scales often adorned with subtle dark longitudinal stripes, while juveniles possess a brown blotched pattern that deters predators. Highly adept at scaling stone walls and tree trunks, these diurnal snakes actively search bird nests, rodent burrows, and rural rooflines for prey.
DiurnalClimberConstrictor
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Rodents
- Birds
- Bird eggs
Predators
- Eagles
- Tanuki
- Mustelids
ThreatsHabitat loss, road mortality, agricultural alteration
HabitatsForests, grasslands, farmland, suburban areas, parks
Life span15–20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyColubridae
- SpeciesElaphe climacophora
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Non-venomous but can bite defensively or emit a musk if handled; observe from a respectful distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Delivers a painful defensive bite with sharp teeth and secretes a foul smell from anal glands when cornered.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for an olive-green to pale grey body with faint dark stripes and large round pupils.
- What to do
- Maintain a respectful distance of at least two meters and allow the snake an open escape route.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Look for them basking on stone walls, tree branches, or rural rooflines during warm mornings.
- Handling: Non-venomous but prone to musking or biting when cornered, so maintain a safe distance.
Prey 
Mimic (c) Alpsdake, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Jukka A. Lång, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-byClose Relative
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