Ptyas dhumnades

Ptyas dhumnades, commonly known as Cantor's rat snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae.^[2] It is found in China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.^[2]

Ptyas dhumnades
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Ptyas
Species:	P. dhumnades
Binomial name
Ptyas dhumnades (Cantor, 1842)

Distribution

The species is widespread in South China (Anhui, Chongqin, Gansu, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shanghai, Sichuan, Tianjin,Yunnan, Zhejiang), Vietnam, and Taiwan. ^[2] It is found at elevations between 50 m and 2,000 m.^[1]

Description

It is often confused with other members of the genus Ptyas, particularly Ptyas nigromarginata due to overlapping features but has distinct characteristics that set it apart. It is not entirely clear if these two species are sympatric.^[3]

Scalation

Dorsal scale rows: 16; Ventrals: 187–194; Subcaudals: 108-116; Loreals: 1; supralabials: 8; Subralabials entering eye 4-5; Number of dorsal scale rows at midbody keeled: 2 or 4 ; 9: Two distinct medial series of dorsal scales throughout: present ; 10: Distinct longitudinal stripes on lateral side at two-heads length before vent position: present; 11: Anterior part of body green: - false.^{[4] [5]}