Japanese striped snake

The Japanese striped snake is a species of snake endemic to Japan.

Appearance
They are about 80~150 cm. Sometimes there are black types but usually they are light yellow. Their scales are not so big so they can't swallow big animals.

Living areas
They live in almost all areas of Japan (Hokkaido, Honsyuu, Shikoku, Kyuusyu, Osumi islands).

Food and Water
They mainly eat rats, birds, lizards, frogs, and snakes. They like reptiles and amphibians. They sometimes prey on one another.They drink water from their mouths.

Reproduction
They lay 4~16 eggs from July to August. Hatching period is 40~50 days.The eggs are usually under the soil,a gap in the stone wall, or under the fallen leaves.

Threats
Decreasing of Paddy field,forest, and Grassland as their habitat.

Relationship with humans
They are often seen in the rural area.They move on the ground so they are often run over by the car.

Color mutation often happens with them, so people sometimes have them as a pet.

References

Category:Colubrids
Category:Animals of Japan
Category:Snakes of Asia