Overview
Steppe ratsnake in Georgia
The steppe ratsnake (Elaphe dione) is a harmless patterned colubrid of Georgia’s drier habitats. It belongs to the family Colubridae. The 2026 Georgian checklist treats it as biologically confirmed; distribution confidence is medium. Named modern localities are in Kakheti: Kvareli (a COI barcode) and Kachreti (head photographs in the same paper). The 2021 Georgian snake survey places it among dry-climate species of rocky or grassland sites, mainly in eastern Georgia; the same study reports a substantial gain in knowledge for this species, including suitable western habitats. This atlas maps Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, and Tbilisi. Do not expect it throughout the country. The species ranges from the Caucasus to the Pacific. Length is usually about 0.7–1.2 m at species level; a separate Georgian measurement is not published here. It is not dangerous to people — it has no venom. In Europe it is Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Last updated
Gallery
Steppe ratsnake in photos
Photo: Nika Gagloshvili
Photo: Nika Gagloshvili
Photo: Nika Gagloshvili
Photo: Kakhaber Sukhitashvili
Akhmeta, Zemo Khodasheni ·
Georgia field photo
Photo: Zinogre · iNaturalist
Zhengzhou, Henan, China ·
Photo: Сергей Грабчак · iNaturalist
Primorsky Krai, Russia ·
Photo: Моховинка · Wikimedia Commons
Ukraine ·
Photo: fisheyes · iNaturalist
Incheon, South Korea ·
Photo: svetlanaagafonova · iNaturalist
Altai Krai, Russia ·
Identification
How to identify Steppe ratsnake
A harmless patterned ratsnake with a round pupil. In Georgia look for fine transverse blotches and often four lengthwise stripes — not the Urartian ratsnake’s large rounded spots, and not a viper’s vertical pupil.
A medium-length ratsnake, not especially heavy-bodied. The head is moderately distinct from the neck. The pupil is round. A dark stripe through the eye is often visible. Species-level length is usually about 0.7–1.2 m. Do not pick the snake up to count scales.
The ground colour is grey, brownish, or yellowish. The back has dark transverse blotches; four paler lengthwise stripes are often present. The head has a dark pattern. The belly is pale, often finely spotted. Juveniles have the same pattern type, often with stronger contrast. The photo gallery shows the species’ pattern from other countries — not a Georgian field shot.
The Urartian ratsnake (Elaphe urartica) is stouter, with a dark head and larger rounded blotches — not a fine transverse pattern and four stripes. The spotted whip snake (Hemorrhois ravergieri) is slimmer and faster; blotches are often rhombic and may join into stripes on the tail. Adult red-bellied racers (Dolichophis schmidti) are faster and often plain coppery with a red belly. Dahl’s whip snake (Platyceps najadum) is thinner, with neck ocelli rather than a fine pattern along the whole back.
Levantine viper (Macrovipera lebetina) has a vertical pupil, a broad head, and strongly keeled scales; it is venomous. The European cat snake (Telescopus fallax) also has a vertical pupil and is active at night. The smooth snake is smaller, with smooth scales. A patterned snake with a vertical pupil is a viper, not this species. It has no venom. A bite can still hurt. Do not pick it up.
The 2026 Georgian checklist treats it as biologically confirmed; distribution confidence is medium. Named modern localities are in Kakheti: Kvareli and Kachreti. This atlas maps Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, and Tbilisi. Do not expect it throughout the country.
Elaphe urartica
Urartian ratsnake
Eastern Georgia
Zamenis hohenackeri
Transcaucasian Ratsnake
Georgia — dry rocky and grassland country
Hemorrhois ravergieri
Spotted Whip Snake
Samtskhe — Javakheti
Dolichophis schmidti
Red-bellied racer
Eastern Georgia
Macrovipera lebetinus
Levantine viper
Eastern Georgia
Platyceps najadum
Dahl's whip snake
Eastern and southern Georgia
Telescopus fallax
European cat snake
Eastern and southern Georgia
Quiz
Next: which snake is it?
Steppe ratsnake is in the Georgia snake quiz. Ten field photos, four names — eye practice, not field ID.
Biology
Habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation
Habitat and range
The 2021 Georgian snake survey treats it as dependent on a reasonably dry climate: rocky or grassland sites, mainly in eastern Georgia. Elsewhere it often shelters in rodent burrows, under rocks, and in crevices; that has not been measured separately in Georgia. This atlas maps Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, and Tbilisi. Named specimens are from Kakheti: Kvareli and Kachreti. Named points for Shida Kartli and Samtskhe — Javakheti are not given on this page. The 2021 study used social-media and iNaturalist records to expand the known range and noted that some eastern colubrids — including this species — were also found in suitable western habitats; a named western or Colchic locality is still not listed here. Across its range it uses steppe, shrubland, open woodland, rocky ground, and disturbed landscapes. Elevation spans from lowlands to high mountains; a verified high record is about 3,520 m in Sichuan, not in Georgia. A separate Georgian elevation band is not published.
Diet
There is no separate Georgian diet study for this species. Elaphe ratsnakes usually take rodents, small birds, nestlings, and eggs; lizards may also be eaten. In the Volga basin, rodents are described as the main prey. It kills by constriction and has no venom. Like other Elaphe it climbs shrubs and trees well; nest-raiding has not been measured directly in Georgia.
Behavior
It is active in the warm season. Like other Elaphe it often moves by day; in some weather it may also appear in the evening. Hourly activity in Georgia has not been described separately. When threatened it usually tries to flee. Do not pick it up — a large snake can bite hard even without venom. It lays eggs. In the Volga basin, 17 females each laid 5–14 eggs in captivity from early July to mid-August; that is not a Georgian clutch. Mating season and clutch size have not been published for Georgian animals. In the same dry east you may also meet the Urartian ratsnake (Elaphe urartica) — the blotches are larger. Confusion with Levantine viper is dangerous: that species has a vertical pupil and is venomous.
Conservation
In Europe it is Least Concern on the IUCN Red List — the range is broad and the species is adaptable. It is not on Georgia’s 2014 Red List. The 2026 checklist treats it as biologically confirmed, with medium distribution confidence. The 2021 survey notes that accurate range data matter for conservation priorities because IUCN categories also depend on range size. Local threats include habitat conversion, road mortality, and killing after confusion with venomous snakes. It preys on rodents; that benefit is not a reason to handle the snake.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Steppe ratsnake.
Yes. The 2026 checklist treats it as biologically confirmed. It does not occur throughout the country.
Mainly in the dry east. Named localities are Kvareli and Kachreti (Kakheti). This atlas also maps Kvemo Kartli and Tbilisi. The 2021 survey notes suitable western habitats too, but a named western point is not listed here.
No. It has no venom and kills prey by constriction. When threatened it usually flees. A large snake can bite — do not pick it up. A vertical pupil points to Levantine viper or another viper.
Grey or brownish ground colour, fine transverse blotches, often four lengthwise stripes, a dark stripe through the eye, and a round pupil. The Urartian ratsnake has large rounded blotches and a dark head. Levantine viper has a vertical pupil.
At species level, length is usually about 0.7–1.2 m. A separate Georgian measurement is not given on this page.
The steppe ratsnake has a finer pattern and often four stripes. The Urartian ratsnake is stouter, with a dark head and larger rounded blotches. Both are harmless and can occur in the same dry east.
It lays eggs. Diet has not been studied separately in Georgia; related ratsnakes take rodents, small birds, and eggs. In the Volga basin clutches of 5–14 eggs were recorded — that is not Georgian data.
In the warm season, often by day. An hourly and seasonal calendar has not been published for Georgia. Expect it in dry rocky or grassland sites.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Iankoshvili & Tarkhnishvili 2021 — Distribution of snakes in Georgia
- EUNIS — Elaphe dione (European IUCN status Least Concern)
- საქართველოს მთავრობის დადგენილება №190 (2014) — წითელი ნუსხა
- Hofmann, Fritzsche & Miehe 2016 — high-altitude record of Elaphe dione in Sichuan
- Klenina 2013 — reproductive biology of Elaphe dione in the Volga basin
- The Reptile Database
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
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