Fun Indian Rat Snake Facts For Kids

The Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosa) is a type of non-venomous snake that belongs to the family of Colubridae. The Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosa) species distribution range lies across South and Southeast Asia, specifically in India. This rat snake can adapt to a variety of habitats that include arid land, open fields, forest floors, farmland, coastal regions, freshwater or brackish water wetlands, rat holes, and termite mounds. These rat snakes come in all types of colors like pale yellow, olive, brown, gray, and even black. These snakes have round pupils and a round head which is larger than their necks. These snakes have scales throughout their body. These snakes are known to be non-poisonous or non-venomous in nature. Even the bite of this snake is not dangerous in terms of toxicity but can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.

Aren't they interesting? Keep on reading to learn more about the snake. For more relatable content, check out these green anaconda facts and kingsnake facts for kids. 

What type of animal is an Indian rat snake?

The Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosa) is a type of non-venomous snake that belongs to the family of Colubridae.

What class of animal does an Indian rat snake belong to?

This fast-moving rat snake belongs to the class of Reptilia.

How many Indian rat snakes are there in the world?

The exact number of Indian rat snakes in the world today are unknown. However, there are in total over 45 species of rat snakes across the globe that are divided into two main categories. These are further divided into sub-categories, the Old world species from Europe and the New world species from North America. The New World species are tamer and easier to handle. Between both these categories, the Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosa) is the most commonly found rat snake across the globe.

Where does an Indian rat snake live?

The Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosa) species distribution range lies across South and Southeast Asia, specifically in India. This rat snake can adapt to a variety of habitats including arid land, open fields, forest floors, farmland, coastal regions, freshwater or brackish water wetlands, rat holes, and termite mounds.

What is an Indian rat snake's habitat?

Indian rat snakes (Ptyas mucosa) generally prefer arid land, open fields, farmland, coastal regions, freshwater or brackish water wetlands, rat holes, and termite mounds. In suburban areas, this snake preys on small birds, lizards, reptiles, frogs, rats, and mice. It is a fast-moving, quick to react, non-venomous, and semi-arboreal snake that can disappear in a split second when alarmed or attacked by humans. The distribution range lies across South and Southeast Asia, specifically in India. This snake also falls prey to many other larger and more aggressive predators like the king cobra. These snakes are semi-arboreal, meaning they spend half their lives on trees.

Who does the Indian rat snake live with?

Not much is known about the living pattern or the social habitat of the Indian rat snake's nature. However, this snake species does hibernate during the winter in dens or their burrows. At the time of hibernation, they often live with other snakes like timber rattlesnakes, bull snakes, and racer snakes. They can also adapt to living with humans as pets. One distinct behavior of this snake is the two individual snakes coiling their bodies around each other. This act is often mistaken as a mating ritual. In fact, actually, it is a combat behavior where the males battle for dominance by intertwining the body of one snake with the body of the other rat snake.

How long does an Indian rat snake live?

These rat snakes have an average lifespan of 10-15 years in the wild as it is surrounded by many predators. However, in captivity, these rat snakes have recorded a life span of over 30 years.

How do they reproduce?

These rat snakes are oviparous snakes. Female snakes can produce between 6-15 eggs per clutch. These eggs are guarded and incubated by the female snakes over a period of 60-80 days. There is a popular misconception that the rat snake doesn’t mate with the cobra but only with its own species but this is false. These rat snakes even mate with king cobras. The mating period of these snakes can last for hours, and as good climbers, adult female and male rat snakes may even mate on trees or forest grounds by intertwining one body with the other. It takes about five weeks after mating for the female to produce rat snake eggs that usually hatch in the month of August. The baby snakes are young and pale with small round heads and tiny tails. These young ones have a miniature version of scales throughout their bodies. The babies are non-venomous like their parents.

What is their conservation status?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has given the conservation status as Not Evaluated. As this species is still widely found in Asia, it can be considered that they are not threatened. 

What does the Indian rat snake look like?

These rat snakes come in all types of colors like pale yellow, olive, brown, gray, and even black. These snakes have round pupils and a round head that is larger than their necks. These snakes have scales throughout their body. These smooth scales are usually black, yellow, or brown. They have a keeled upper body and an underside that has prominent dark alternating bands of yellow and black. These snakes have a slender long body with a tapering tail that with extremely strong muscles enable the snake to move around. These muscles also help the snake to strangle its prey and other animals that possess a threat to this snake. This snake can grow up to a length of 7 ft 7 in (2.3 m) in length. This snake even has a slender tongue.

How cute are they?

Most people may think that snakes can't be classified as cute because of their looks and their poisonous bite. However, these brown creatures are really cute, or classy to be exact because of the and appearance and their fascinating skin. Its behavior of inflating its throat and movement of the head may be seen as mimicking a cobra to look more intimidating and scary.

How do they communicate?

The communication process between snakes is not yet fully known. However, these snakes can be seen rattling their tail to behave like venomous snakes in situations where predators are around or when they sense danger. They even stiffen up their body and lay stiff, or they may coil up to prevent from becoming prey to many other snakes

How big is an Indian rat snake?

The length of this species varies based on its age and habitats. On average, this species that belongs to India is 7 ft 7 in (2.3 m) in length. This snake is half the size of a king cobra that originates in India.

How fast can an Indian rat snake move?

The exact speed of the Indian rat snake is not yet determined. However, it is a very fast-moving snake and is hard to capture once on the run. This snake can swiftly climb trees and hide.

How much does an Indian rat snake weigh?

The Indian rat snake is quite heavy. Most of its weight is contributed by the scales throughout the body and the thick muscles. This snake weighs 1.9-2.1 lb (877-940 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no separate names given to a male or a female Indian rat snake.

What would you call a baby Indian rat snake?

The baby Indian rat snake can be called a snakelet or a hatchling.

What do they eat?

The diet of this animal primarily consists of lizards, birds, eggs, rats, amphibians, rodents, insects, and other snakes in natural habitats. When this snake is kept captive, it is primarily fed eggs and insects.

Are they poisonous?

These snakes are known to be non-poisonous or non-venomous in nature. Even the bite of this snake is not dangerous in terms of toxicity but can cause a lot of pain and discomfort.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, they do make great pets. In fact, many people are keeping these rat snakes as their pets because of their calm and non-aggressive behavior and because this species is non-venomous. 

Did you know...

The diet of these snakes is very versatile and they adapt to their surroundings very easily. They hibernate every year during winter.

Can Indian rat snakes climb trees? 

These snakes are known for their semi-arboreal lifestyle. This means they spend half their lives on trees. They are great tree climbers.

How can you tell a rat snake?

You can identify a rat snake by looking at its skin color. The color of rat snakes is fairly variable with a grayish light brown to dark brown upperside and a creamy to bright yellow underside that is unlike any other snake of this species. This snake even has a round head and if its bite does not kill you, then it probably is a rat snake!

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other reptiles from our sea snake fun facts and king rat snake interesting facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable color by number snake coloring pages.

Main image by Shino jacob koottanad

Second image by Shino jacob koottanad