Elaphe
Sign in to saveElaphe is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. Elaphe is one of the main genera of the rat snakes, which are found in many regions of the northern hemisphere. Elaphe species are medium to large constrictors by nature.
Taxonomy · GBIF
Western Ratsnake
GENUS
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyColubridae
Observations27,747
Groupreptilia
via GBIF · iNaturalist · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Colubrinae
- Image
- Elaphe climacophora in Yokohama.jpg
Show 4 more facts
- P105
- genus
- P910
- Category:Elaphe
- P460
- rat snake
- P1420
- Orthriophis
via Wikidata · CC0
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Physical characteristics
- Senses
- Lifecycle and behavior
- Hibernation
- Reproduction
- Defense mechanisms
- Locomotion
- Predation
- Habitat and distribution
- Species
- References
- External links
Elaphe is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. Elaphe is one of the main genera of the rat snakes, which are found in many regions of the northern hemisphere. Elaphe species are medium to large constrictors by nature.
Based on the mitochondrial DNA analysis results, many species formerly in Elaphe have been moved to the genera Bogertophis, Coelognathus, Gonyosoma, Orthriophis, Pantherophis, Rhinechis, Senticolis, Zamenis, and others. Nevertheless, the generic name Elaphe is still widely used both for the species remaining in Elaphe and to refer broadly to members of the several Columbid genera formerly included in Elaphe.