A new species of rat snake has been recognized as an endemic species, recently documented only in Vietnam.
Rat snakes, also known as mouse snakes, belong to the scientific genus Ptyas, which is part of the Colubridae family. Species within this genus are typically large and are distributed primarily in Asia.
For over 100 years, no new species from this genus had been discovered, and scientists had recorded 13 species of rat snakes.
Recently, Vietnamese scientists, along with researchers from various other countries, thoroughly examined and analyzed specimens of the Bach Ma rat snake (scientific name Ptyas nigromarginata) found on Bach Ma Mountain, located in Bach Ma National Park, Thua Thien-Hue Province.
Image of a Bach Ma rat snake (Photo: Hoang Nhu Phuong).
Thanks to distinct biological features such as the number of scales on the back, belly, and lips, as well as differences in DNA analysis, scientists identified this as a completely new snake species, with unique biological and genetic characteristics compared to the traditional Bach Ma rat snake. This new species has been named Bach Ma rat snake (scientific name Ptyas bachmaensis).
In addition to Bach Ma Mountain, scientists have reported that the Bach Ma rat snake has also been observed in Kon Plong District, Kon Tum Province.
The Bach Ma rat snake is a large species, with males reaching lengths of up to 2.4 meters, while females typically measure around 1.6 meters. This snake features a distinctly brown head that contrasts sharply with its neck. It has large eyes with round pupils.
Bach Ma rat snake with a brown head, green body, and long black tail (Photo: Sang N. Nguyen, Nikolai L. Orlov).
This snake is notable for its dark green body, with raised scales along its back, a long tapered black tail, and a pale yellow or white belly, featuring some scales in the hip region with black borders.
As a member of the rat snake family, the Bach Ma rat snake is non-venomous.
With the recognition of the Bach Ma rat snake as a new species, Vietnam now hosts two species of rat snakes: the traditional rat snake (scientific name Ptyas nigromarginata) found in the northern regions and the Bach Ma rat snake, which is distributed from Thua Thien-Hue to Kon Tum.
