A long, slender, non-venomous snake found across parts of India, Iran, and Iraq. It has a graceful body built for speed and agility, making it one of the more impressive snakes in its range. Its scales are usually olive-brown to yellowish, with a lighter underside, and its eyes are large and round, giving it a sharp, alert look. At first sight, it might resemble a cobra or another dangerous snake. Still, it is entirely harmless to humans—its main talent lies in its role as a skilled rodent hunter, which makes it very important for balancing ecosystems and even helping farmers by keeping grain stores free of pests.

What makes Hardwicke’s rat snake distinct is its active and diurnal lifestyle. Unlike many snakes that prefer to hunt at night, this species is out and about during the day, slithering quickly across fields, forests, and farmlands in search of prey. True to its name, it feeds heavily on rats, mice, and other small mammals but also eats birds, eggs, and occasionally reptiles. Its sharp reflexes and quick strikes make it an efficient predator, and though it lacks venom, it uses speed and strength to overpower its meals. This daytime activity also makes it one of the more commonly seen large snakes in rural areas, often surprising people with its sudden, fast movements.

When threatened, it can flatten its neck slightly, raising the front part of its body in a cobra-like stance to scare away predators. Combined with its size, this behavior often makes people mistake it for a dangerous snake, but in reality, it poses no threat. Instead, this bluffing strategy is one of its clever survival tools. Unlike boas or pythons that rely on constriction, rat snakes usually grab their prey and swallow it quickly, using their agility rather than brute strength.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Afghanistan

2016

Presence Uncertain

Bahrain

2016

India

2016

Iran

2016

Iraq

2016

Kuwait

2016

Pakistan

2016

Saudi Arabia

2016