''Euprepiophis'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of non

venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

ous

colubrid Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from , 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest fossil species of the family date back to the Late Eocene epoch, with earlier origins suspected. Colu ...

snakes Snakes are elongated Limbless vertebrate, limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales much like other members of ...

, containing three

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of Asian

rat snake Rat snakes are members – along with kingsnakes, milk snakes, Oxybelis, vine snakes and indigo snakes – of the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. They are medium to large Constriction, constrictors and are found throughout much o ...

s which were formerly assigned to the genus ''

Elaphe ''Elaphe'' is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. ''Elaphe'' is one of the main genera of the rat snakes, which are found in many regions of the northern hemisphere. ''Elaphe'' species are medium to large constrictors by nature. Based ...

''. They were separated from ''Elaphe'' in 2002 by Utiger et al. following evidence from

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...

analysis. They are true rat snakes but are not as closely related to other European, Asian, or North American rat snakes as their former place in ''Elaphe'' might suggest.

Species

*'' Euprepiophis conspicillata'' ( H. Boie, 1826) - Japanese forest rat snake *''

Euprepiophis mandarinus The mandarin rat snake (''Euprepiophis mandarinus'') is a species of nonvenomous Colubridae, colubrid snake Endemism, endemic to Asia. It is closely related to ''Euprepiophis conspicillata'', the Japanese forest rat snake. Mandarin rat snakes are ...

'' (

Cantor A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing or sometimes in prayer. Cantor as a profession generally refers to those leading a Jewish congregation, although it also applies to the lead singer or choir director in Christian contexts. ...

, 1842) - Mandarin rat snake *'' Euprepiophis perlaceus'' ( Stejneger, 1929) - Szechwan rat snakeThe Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org

References

External links

Utiger's 2002 Rat Snake Phylogeny
Rat snakes Taxa named by Leopold Fitzinger Snake genera {{Colubrinae-stub