Species of Thailand
Red bamboo rat snake
Oreocryptophis porphyraceus
(Theodore Edward Cantor, 1839)
In Thai: งูทางมะพร้าวแดง, ngu thang maphao daeng
Oreocryptophis porphyraceus is a rat snake species, commonly called the black-banded trinket snake, red bamboo snake, found in mid to upper-level elevations of forested hills in southeastern Asia, ranging from evergreen tropical to dry seasonal forests depending on the subspecies and locality. It is the only member of the genus Oreocryptophis, but it was formerly placed in Elaphe.
Description
The head is small, sharp and squarish, while the color pattern includes red or orange colors, along with black bands or stripes. A terrestrial species, it has a preference for cool climates that restricts its habitat to hills and mountain plateaus. It is known to be crepuscular, active during the late evenings till night and dawn till late mornings. In captivity, it is one of the most sought-after rat snake species.
Distribution
India (Darjeeling, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh (Miao, Namdapha - Changlang district, Itanagar - Papum Pare district), Myanmar, Bhutan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, South China (Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hong Kong, Hainan, northward to Henan and Gansu; south to Wei He river), Taiwan, West Malaysia (Cameron Highlands, Pahang), Indonesia (Sumatra). The type locality given is "India: Assam, Mishmi Hills." It is also reported from Lowachhara National Park of North-eastern Bangladesh
Habitat
These rat snakes thrive under cool and very humid conditions. On many occasions they are found at altitudes exceeding 800 meters in evergreen moist rainforest or monsoon forests, depending on the subspecies and locality. They spend most of the time hiding in leaf litter, under moss carpets, or under rocks and logs.
Diet
The diet consists primarily of rodents and other small mammals in the wild. Frogs are a possibility. In captivity, mice are accepted readily.
Subspecies
| Subspecies | Geographic range |
|---|---|
| O. p. porphyraceus | Bhutan; India; Laos; Myanmar; Nepal; China, Thailand, Vietnam |
| O. p. coxi | NW Thailand |
| O. p. kawakamii | Taiwan |
| O. p. laticinctus | Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra |
| O. p. vaillanti | China, Vietnam |
| O. p. pulcher | China |
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Scientific classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Suborder
- Serpentes
- Family
- Colubridae
- Genus
- Oreocryptophis
- Species
- Oreocryptophis porphyraceus
Common names
- Chinese: 紫灰锦蛇
- German: Rote (breitband-) Bambusnatter
- English:
- Red bamboo rat snake
- Black-banded trinket snake
- Red bamboo snake
- Lox's mountoin racer
- Red mountain racer
- Thai: งูทางมะพร้าวแดง, ngu thang maphao daeng
Subspecies
Oreocryptophis porphyraceus coxi, Klaus-Dieter Schulz & Notker Helfenberger, 1998
Range: Northwest Thailand
Oreocryptophis porphyraceus kawakamii, Masamitsu Ōshima, 1911
Range: Taiwan
Oreocryptophis porphyraceus laticincta, Klaus-Dieter Schulz & Notker Helfenberger, 1998
Range: Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra.
Oreocryptophis porphyraceus porphyraceus, Theodore Edward Cantor, 1839
Range: Buthan; India; Laos; Myanmar; Nepal; People's Republic of China, Thailand, Vietnam
Oreocryptophis porphyraceus pulchra, Karl Patterson Schmidt, 1925
Range: China
Oreocryptophis porphyraceus vaillanti, Henri Émile Sauvage, 1876
Range: Hong Kong, China, Vietnam
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Photos
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Range Map
- Bo Kluea District, Nan
- Chae Son National Park
- Chiang Klang District, Nan
- Doi Inthanon National Park
- Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park
- Doi Phu Kha National Park
- Doi Suthep - Pui National Park
- Doi Tung
- Huai Nam Dang National Park
- Kaeng Krachan National Park
- Khlong Wang Chao National Park
- Khun Yuam District, Mae Hong Son
- Lom Kao District, Phetchabun
- Mae Charim District, Nan
- Mae Charim National Park
- Mae Fa Luang District, Chiang Rai
- Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son
- Mae Tho National Park
- Mae Wong National Park
- Na Noi District, Nan
- Nakhon Thai District, Phitsanulok
- Omkoi District, Chiang Mai
- Op Luang National Park
- Pai District, Mae Hong Son
- Pha Daeng National Park
- Phop Phra District, Tak
- Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park
- Phu Khiao Wildlife Sanctuary
- Phu Kradueng District, Loei
- Phu Kradueng National Park
- Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary
- Phu Soi Dao National Park
- Pua District, Nan
- Tha Wang Pha District, Nan
- Thoeng District, Chiang Rai
- Umphang District, Tak
- Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai
- Wiang Pa Pao District, Chiang Rai