The rhinoceros ratsnake (Gonyosoma boulengeri), also known commonly as the rhinoceros snake, rhino rat snake, and Vietnamese longnose snake, is a species of nonvenomous ratsnake in the family Colubridae. The species is found from northern Vietnam to southern China. It has a prominent, distinctive, scaled protrusion on the front of its snout, which has led to its common naming after a rhinoceros.
Etymology The specific name, boulengeri, is in honor of Belgian-British biologist George Albert Boulenger.Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (Rhynchophis boulengeri, p. 34).
Geographic range G. boulengeri is found in northern Vietnam including Tam Dao,Rhynchophis boulengeri . www.schlangenland.de. Retrieved on 2013-01-03. and in southern China. During a 2001 survey, 10 specimens were observed in Yên Bái Province, northern Vietnam.Tordoff et al. (May 2001). A Rapid Biodiversity Survey of Che Tao Commune, Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province, Vietnam, Hanoi, note those of its reported species which have IUCN Redlist status, and have no such notes for Rhynchophis boulengeri which was observed in this report.
Description
The adult size of G. boulengeri is in total length (including tail). Its scale count includes 19 rows of dorsals at midbody.
Natural history The rhinoceros ratsnake inhabits subtropical rainforests at elevations between , particularly valleys with streams. It is generally arboreal, and mostly diurnal, hunting small mice and other rodents, birds, and perhaps other vertebrate prey. Oviparous, its mating season from April to May may produce five to 10 eggs in a clutch. After 60 days' incubation, hatchlings are total length, brownish grey with dark edges on several dorsal scales. As they mature, rhinoceros ratsnakes change color to steel grey at about 12–14 months, then to a bluish green or green adult hue at about 24 months. However, a rare few individuals maintain their steel grey subadult color and do not pass into ordinarily mature color phase. Studies conducted by Bangor University have suggested that the nasal protrusion is used for mating displays in which the males may 'fence' off rivals. Other studies have found little correlation between the use of the nasal protrusion and courtship displays, which may suggest the true function is still unknown.
References
Further reading Brachtel, Norbert (1998). "Das Portrait: Rhynchophis boulengeri (Mocquard, 1897)". Sauria, Berlin 20 (1): 2. (in German). Mocquard F (1897). "Notes herpétologiques". Bulletin du Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Series 1, 3 (6): 211-217. (Rhynchophis boulengeri, new species, p. 215). (in French). Orlov, Nikolai et al. (1999). "Eine seltene Natter aus Nordvietnam, Rhynchophis boulengeri (Mocquard, 1897)". Sauria, Berlin 20 (1): 3–8. (in German).
External links
Captive care of rhino ratsnakes (Rhynchophis boulengeri ) from Adam Wilford of AC Snakes, United Kingdom . Sacha Korell's Natural Elaphe Collection image gallery for Vietnamese Longnose Snake (Rhynchophis boulengeri ) . Image: "A rare rhino rat snake (Rhynchophis boulengeri ) emerges from its shell at ZSL London Zoo". Telegraph.co.uk .