Ptyas mucosa (Linnaeus, 1758) Indian Rat Snake	Diagnostic characters:
	Alarge, stream-lined snake with shiny scales; dorsal rows keeled; thin neck and large eyes has round pupil; head is depressed; snout short and blunt; tail is short, somewhat compressed basally. Varies greatly in color; pale-yellow, olive, brown, grey and black; body lightly or strongly marked with black; these markings usually distinct on tail; lip scales usually separated by vertical black lines.SVL: 3000mm
	Habit and Habitat:
	A very fast, alert, active, diurnal hunter which can climb well. It has a wide range of habitats-coastal, arid, wet, mountainous, open fields as well as forests. Rat holes and termite mounds are preferred dwellings.
	Diet:
	Feeds on frogs, toads, lizards, birds, rats, bats, snakes and in one case it also shows cannibalism.
	Legal Protection:
	WL (P) A, 1972-Schedule II.
	Conservation status and Threats:
	Not accessed. Uncommon.  No serious threat observed.
	Distribution: Madhya Pradesh: Throughout. Elsewhere in India: The whole of India.