Gonyosoma oxycephalum

Gonyosoma oxycephalum, known commonly as the arboreal ratsnake, the red-tailed green ratsnake, and the red-tailed racer, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.

Red-tailed green ratsnake
Red-tailed green ratsnake
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Gonyosoma
Species:
G. oxycephalum
Binomial name
Gonyosoma oxycephalum
(F. Boie, 1827)
Synonyms

Elaphe oxycephala (Boie, 1827)

It was first described by Friedrich Boie in 1827.[2]

Description

G. oxycephalum is a robust powerful snake, with wide smooth scales on its belly that are ideal for climbing trees and across branches. It has smaller, smooth scales on its back, which is usually bright green or light green and may have a black net-like pattern. A gray-colored morph with a yellow head exists in Panay, in the Philippines.

As some of its common names indicate, the snake has a green body with a red tail, but is usually brown. It also has a dark line horizontally across the eye. On the sides of its black tongue there may be brown and blue colour. The top of the head may be dark green, yellow-green, or yellow in colour.

The female can reach a length of up to 2.4 m (almost 8 feet), while the male is generally a little bit smaller but brighter in coloration.

Longevity

The average life span of G. oxycephalum in captivity is 20 years.

Reproduction

G. oxycephalum reaches sexually maturity at 4 years of age, and its eggs have a hatching time from 13 to 16 weeks. The female lays on average between 3 and 8 eggs usually between September and January and the hatchlings are about 45 cm (18 inches) long.

Behavior

The red-tailed green ratsnake lives and spends its life in the trees and in cavities in trees. It seldom descends to the ground. When the snake is stressed, it may inflate a bag of air in its neck, making it appear larger in size.

In captivity, it has quite the "attitude" and may strike at or bite an unwary handler. Its temperament can be unpredictable and may change from time to time but an individual may become tame through proper handling.

Diet

G. oxycephalum feeds almost exclusively on birds, bird eggs, lizards, and bats. It catches them in mid-air while hanging amongst branches. In captivity, it can be trained to feed on rodents such as mice and rats.

Distribution

G. oxycephalumm is found in the following countries:

The Type locality is Indonesia: Java (F. Boie, 1827).

References
  1. Wogan, G.; Vogel, G.; Thy, N.; Nguyen, T.Q.; Demegillo, A.; Diesmos, A.C. & Gonzalez, J.C. (2012). "Gonyosoma oxycephalum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T183196A1732988.
  2. Boie, F. (1827). "Bemerkungen über Merrem's Versuch eines Systems der Amphibien, Erste Lieferung: Ophidier". Isis von Oken. 20 (VI): 508–566.

Further reading
  • Boulenger GA (1894). "On the Herpetological Fauna of Palawan and Balabac". Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Sixth Series 14: 81-90.
  • Dowling, Herndon G. (1958). "A taxonomic study of the ratsnakes VI. Validation of the genera Gonyosoma Wagler and Elaphe Fitzinger". Copeia 1958 (1): 29-40.
  • Gray JE (1849). "Description of three new genera and species of snakes". Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Second Series 4: 246-248.
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