Red-tailed Rat Snake
Taxonomy
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Genus/species: Gonyosoma oxycephala
Description
Red-tailed rat snakes are beautiful, iridescent green
with either a reddish or purplish tail. They can reach
lengths of six feet (2 m). They are excellent climbers
and very arboreal. These are diurnal, which means they
are active during the day.
Distribution and Habitat
Red-tailed rat snakes are found in Southeast Asia in
Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam, and the Philippines. They
prefer tropical forests and mangroves.
Diet in the Wild
They are arboreal constrictors that feed on rodents
and birds.
Zoo Diet
The Zoo diet includes mice or small rats.
Reproduction
Breeding can take place year round, but most often
in September or October. Females may produce three-to-four
clutches a year and the eggs hatch after a three-to-four
month incubation.
Life Span
They may live as long as 12 years.
Status
These snakes are not currently listed as endangered
or threatened on the IUCN Red List, and are not covered
by CITES.
