Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Coelognathus

Picture: W. Groschopp

Coelognathus flavolineatus (Common Malayan Racer)

Length: Up to 180 cm. Most specimen stay smaller and only reach a length from about 120 cm. Some authors describe them with a maximum length of 200 cm.

Occurrence:
Southern Thailand south of Krabi. In the RED DATA BOOK about the status of mammals, reptiles and amphibians of Thailand also Nakhon Ratchasima (Pak Chong, Wang Namkieo)is listed as a locality. Also TRUTNAU (Ungiftige Schlangen Bd 1/2) remarks, that he has found this specimen in Central Thailand in the Khao Yai Nationalpark. This would be an isolated occurance – at least at the present stage of knowledge – as this locality is about 1000 km northeast from the next locality where this specimen is found. Photos from specimen from this locality would be helpful for to check how far North this snakes lives.

Behaviour/habitat:
The Black tail Racer mostly inhabits the lowland up to 900 meters above sea level. It inhabits rainforests, bushy areas as well as rice fields and grasslands. The snake is active during the day and at night. They feed on rodents, birds lizards, bats and frogs.

This snake lays eggs. Between 5 and 12 eggs are deposit by the female several times per year. The incubation time lasts between 75 and 89 days. The hatchlings have a total length between 25 and 30 cm at birth.

Danger:
This is a nonvenomous snake. In contrary to the alike looking Copperheaded Racer (Coelognathus radiatus) Coelognathus flavolineatus doesn’t tend to bite, even if it picked up by hand.

Picture: J. Bulian

Coelognathus radiatus (Copperheaded Racer)
Thai: (ngu tang maprao lai keet)

Length: Up to 230 cm. These snakes generally reach a length between 150 and 180 cm.

Occurrence: The Copperhead Rat Snake is found throughout Thailand.

Behaviour/habitat:
Coelognathus radiatus resides in all types of habitats up to a height of 1500 meters. You will find this snake in wooded areas, as well as cultivated land, villages and towns. These snakes live at ground level and are active mostly during the day and sometimes at twilight and at night. This fast snake flees if it sense danger. If they are cornered, they show typical defensive behaviour in that they shape their body into a double S and snap at their opponent. If they are not successful with this tactic, they play dead by lying on their back with their mouth open and let their tongue hand out. Their food is rodents, birds, lizards and frogs.

Danger: None. This snake is non-poisonous