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RAUK - Archived Forum - Which Chinese Snake?

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Which Chinese Snake?:

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daveg
Member
Joined: 02 Jul 2006
No. of posts: 24


View other posts by daveg
Posted: 09 Jul 2006

I'm a new member and wondered if anyone could help identify this snake that I came accross in China November 2002 when working on a drilling rig on the outskirts of Dongying in Shangdong province, (eastern China). Weather was sunny but chilly probably about 12 deg c (midday) so I was surprised to see it slither,albeit leisurely! accross a sandy track leading up to the drilling site about 100 m away.

The area was mainly deadish grass and small ponds and tracks running between several small oil installations so not really classic reptile country. I later thought there was a chance it had escaped from a restaurant as there were probably a few  within a km radius that may have had snake on the menu but couldn't verify at the time. I've tried to check up on Chinese herps on the internet but seen nothing to help me ID this one. Suppose its a rat snake of some kind?

Travel round quite a lot for my job and just now in Villahermosa, Mexico and seen some nice iguanas! Other than that, I live in Gillingham, Dorset and just heard by text that someone has seen an adder near the river Lodden but still trying to get the full details. Dave


arvensis
Senior Member
Joined: 15 Mar 2006
No. of posts: 445


View other posts by arvensis
Posted: 09 Jul 2006
I found a webpage for the Science Museums fo China, the link for contact is this: http://www.kepu.net.cn/english/red/mus02.html

Perhaps contact them and see if they can help?  I did have a browse around and the closest I could find is the Copperhead Racer - Elaphe Radiata.   Not a ID, but the closest I could find in the way of colouring and patterning.

Mark
arvensis38907.2258217593
Hampshire Amphibian and Reptile Group.
Dan Kane
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Dec 2005
No. of posts: 201


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Posted: 09 Jul 2006
Yea, looks like a rat snake to me too, not sure what species though.
Dan

www.randacumbria.moonfruit.com
Wolfgang Wuster
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 326


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Posted: 09 Jul 2006
Looks like what was formerly Elaphe rufodorsata and is now Oocatochus rufodorsatus.

Cheers,

WW
Wolfgang Wüster
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor
http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/
GemmaJF
Admin Group
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
No. of posts: 2090


View other posts by GemmaJF
Posted: 09 Jul 2006

I'm no expert on rat snakes, but your picture led to a quick search of the internet,

Take a look at this link:

http://www.cunninghamselaphe.com/oldworld.html

Your image at least superficially has a great deal of resemblance to the picture of Dione's Ratsnake (striped phase) shown below:

Though hopefully someone can give a postive identification.


Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
GemmaJF
Admin Group
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
No. of posts: 2090


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Posted: 09 Jul 2006

How do you manage to post at the same time WW??? I'm sure WW is right.


Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant
daveg
Member
Joined: 02 Jul 2006
No. of posts: 24


View other posts by daveg
Posted: 09 Jul 2006

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Nice to see reptiles surviving in somewhat bleak conditions. The photo I dug out here shows the area in the Shengli Oilfield , Dongying where I saw the snake.  Dave


- Which Chinese Snake?

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