Manchurian Black Water Snake
Elaphe schrenckii
The Amur Rat Snake, Russian Rat Snake, Korean Rat Snake, Siberian Rat Snake, or Manchurian Black Water Snake exists in two varieties, since taxonomy changes in 2002:
Elaphe schrenki
Elaphe anomala
The northern, darker, most common variety is known to be more fearless, inquisitive & personable that its southern cousin, which is somewhat more nervous & shy.
It is found in the Amur River basin; in eastern Mongolia, southeastern Siberia, northuern Manchuria and Korea. It is the largest indigenous snake on the Korean Peninsula and is typically 140-180 cm long.
It is one variety of rat snake, feeding primarily on small mammals, birds & bird eggs. It is often found in wetlands, but is also found in a variety of other habitats such as rocky hillsides. It is a very good climber, found as high up in trees as 6 meters.
It is officially a protected species in Russia and South Korea.
Elaphe schrenki
Elaphe anomala
The northern, darker, most common variety is known to be more fearless, inquisitive & personable that its southern cousin, which is somewhat more nervous & shy.
It is found in the Amur River basin; in eastern Mongolia, southeastern Siberia, northuern Manchuria and Korea. It is the largest indigenous snake on the Korean Peninsula and is typically 140-180 cm long.
It is one variety of rat snake, feeding primarily on small mammals, birds & bird eggs. It is often found in wetlands, but is also found in a variety of other habitats such as rocky hillsides. It is a very good climber, found as high up in trees as 6 meters.
It is officially a protected species in Russia and South Korea.
