Cope's Rat Snake (Phoenix Zoo - Arizona Trail)

Cope's Rat Snake

Senticolis triaspis

Summary ⁶

Senticolis triaspis, also known as green rat snake, is a long (160 cm), green or olive green snake with the light yellow ventral side. They usually inhabit evergreen forests and grassland. They are well distributed in the Baboquivari, Pajarito, Atascosa, Santa Rita, Empire, Patagonia, Chiricahua, Swisshelm, Pedregosa, and Peloncillo mountains of southeastern Arizona. Senticolis triaspis consume small animals such as lizards, killing them by deadly constriction. They are primarily diurnal. During reproduction, they are able to lay...

Range description ⁷

Range extends from southeastern Arizona (Baboquivari, Pajarito, Santa Rita, Empire, Whetstone, and Chiricahua mountains) and southwestern New Mexico (Peloncillo and Guadalupe mountains; possibly also the Animas and Mule mountains) in the United States, south through both versants of Mexico to Costa Rica. Elevational range extends from near sea level to over 2,200 meters (Price 1991) (2,500 meters, according to Wilson and Johnson (2010).

Iucn red list assessment ⁸

Red List Category

Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version

3.1

Year Assessed

2013

Assessor/s

Geoffrey A. Hammerson, Fernando Mendoza-Quijano, Jullian Lee, Joel Vazquez Diaz, Gustavo E. Quintero Diaz

Reviewer/s

Bowles, P.

Contributor/s

Justification

Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.