Transcaucasian Ratsnake
Zamenis hohenackeri
A harmless, blotched ratsnake of dry rocky and grassland habitats in Georgia.
At a glance
Key facts in one look
Habitat
Dry rock / grass
Length
Often 75–95 cm
Venom
None — harmless
Conservation
LC / not on Red List
Status in Georgia
Confirmed
Family
Colubridae
Human interaction: It is not venomous. A bite is not medically significant, but do not pick up a wild snake. The blotched pattern is easily confused with a viper — check the pupil and head shape first, then keep your distance.
Overview
What is Transcaucasian Ratsnake
The Transcaucasian ratsnake (Zamenis hohenackeri) is a confirmed, non-venomous blotched ratsnake of dry rocky and grassland country in Georgia. The 2026 Georgian checklist treats it as biologically confirmed; the subspecies in Georgia is Z. h. hohenackeri. Adults are usually well under a metre; measured Azerbaijan adults had body lengths of about 62–78 cm plus a shorter tail. It is not venomous. IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It is not on Georgia’s 2014 Red List. It is often confused with the Aesculapian snake and with other blotched snakes, including vipers.
Last updated
Gallery
Transcaucasian Ratsnake in photos
Photo: Alexandre Roux · iNaturalist
Photo: Mariya · iNaturalist
Photo: גלית משה · iNaturalist
Photo: Wouter Beukema · iNaturalist
Photo: Ioane Rostiashvili
Photo: Ioane Rostiashvili
Tsavkisi ·
Photo: Zauri Khachidze
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park ·
Photo: Zauri Khachidze
Identification
How to identify Transcaucasian Ratsnake
A slender, non-venomous ratsnake with a round pupil. Adults keep two rows of dark blotches and a pale vertebral line — unlike adult Aesculapian snakes.
The pupil is round, not a vertical slit as in vipers. The head is only moderately distinct from the body; there is no nose horn. Scales on the front half of the back are smooth; those toward the tail may be weakly keeled (Azerbaijan series).
In the nominotypical subspecies the back has two longitudinal rows of ochre or brown spots separated by a narrow pale line. A forked dark nuchal mark is common. A dark stripe runs from the eye to the mouth corner; a vertical dark line often sits below the eye. The belly is reddish or yellowish with grey mottling. Juveniles are more contrasting; with age the ground colour darkens and the spots become less obvious.
Older species accounts often give a total length of about 65 cm. In Azerbaijan, adult body length was 61.5–78.1 cm and the tail 11.2–16.4 cm; females averaged larger. A Georgia-only measured series is not on this page.
Adult Aesculapian snakes (Zamenis longissimus) are often more uniform olive-brown and tied to more humid, wooded country. This species keeps a blotched pattern and prefers drier rocky ground. The Steppe ratsnake (Elaphe dione) often shows four longitudinal stripes and is more steppe-dry. The Urartian ratsnake (Elaphe urartica) is larger, with big rounded blotches. The smooth snake (Coronella austriaca) is smaller, with smooth scales and a different head pattern. The spotted racer (Hemorrhois ravergieri) is faster, with a more elongated head. The Transcaucasian nose-horned viper has a vertical pupil, keeled scales, and a true nose horn — it is venomous.
The 2026 Georgian checklist treats it as biologically confirmed; the subspecies in Georgia is Z. h. hohenackeri. It is often confused with the Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus), which is often more uniform as an adult and is tied to more humid, wooded country. This species keeps its blotches.
Elaphe dione
Steppe ratsnake
Dry eastern Georgia
Elaphe urartica
Urartian ratsnake
Eastern Georgia
Zamenis longissimus
Aesculapian Snake
western Georgia — humid zone
Coronella austriaca
Smooth snake
Georgia — widespread
Hemorrhois ravergieri
Spotted Whip Snake
Samtskhe — Javakheti
Vipera ammodytes
Nose-horned viper
Lesser Caucasus
Quiz
Next: which snake is it?
Transcaucasian 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
A 2021 Georgian snake-distribution study places it among species of reasonably dry climate, in rocky or grassland settings, mostly in the east — together with the Steppe ratsnake, spotted racer, and Transcaucasian nose-horned viper. The same paper reports that several such colubrids, including this species, were also recorded in suitable western habitats after previously being known mainly from the east. This atlas maps Imereti, Samtskhe — Javakheti, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, and Tbilisi. Kakheti is not on that map, even though literature ties the species mainly to eastern dry country — the national map is still incomplete. Named points include Gomaro village, Adigeni municipality (the 2026 checklist barcode and head photographs); Boshuri (a genetic sample in Jandzik et al. 2013; Zemo and Kvemo Boshuri exist in Gori municipality); and Tbilisi (Tiflis) in Strauch’s 1873 type series. Do not assume even density across the country. At species level it is often montane; Jandzik et al. give mostly 900–3,000 m, lower in southern parts of the range. A Georgia-only elevation belt is not measured on this page. Unlike the Aesculapian snake, it is not treated as a humid Colchic-forest snake.
Diet
There is no separate Georgian diet study on this page. The Armenian Red Data Book account says adults take small rodents and lizards; juveniles also take insects. Azerbaijan and Caucasus accounts match that picture. Prey is constricted; there is no venom. A realistic Georgian diet in rocky grassland should be similar, but local stomach data are not cited here.
Behavior
It is secretive. Jandzik et al. describe mainly crepuscular and nocturnal activity, so daytime encounters are uncommon. The pupil is round. When threatened it usually flees; it does not hunt people. It lays eggs. Species accounts typically give 3–7 eggs per clutch. In Armenia it is described as emerging in April after winter, laying in mid-June, with hatchlings in early September. That calendar is Armenian, not a measured Georgian season.
Conservation
Hraoui-Bloquet et al. assess the species as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (2009). It is not on Georgia’s 2014 Red List (Decree No. 190); snakes listed there include the Caucasus viper, Dinnik’s viper, and the Montpellier snake under the old name Malpolon monspessulanus. Armenia and Azerbaijan treat it as nationally Vulnerable; some neighbouring sources also cite an older Georgian Red Book — that is not the 2014 list. Iankoshvili and Tarkhnishvili 2021 substantially expanded range knowledge; IUCN categories depend on range size, so new western records change conservation geography. Local pressure includes habitat conversion and killing after confusion with venomous snakes. A Georgian population trend is not measured here. Do not collect wild snakes.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Transcaucasian Ratsnake.
Yes. The 2026 checklist treats it as biologically confirmed. The subspecies in Georgia is Z. h. hohenackeri.
On dry rocky and grassland ground, more often in eastern and southern foothills; also in suitable western habitat. This atlas maps Imereti, Samtskhe — Javakheti, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, and Tbilisi. Named points include Gomaro (Adigeni), Boshuri, and historically Tbilisi.
No. It is a non-venomous colubrid. It is harmless to people. Do not pick it up.
Round pupil, two rows of dark blotches with a pale midline, and a dark stripe from the eye to the mouth corner. Adults stay blotched. Vipers have a vertical pupil and often a nose horn.
Adult Aesculapian snakes are often more uniform and tied to humid woodland. This species keeps a blotched pattern and prefers drier rocky ground. Both are non-venomous.
Older accounts often give about 65 cm total length. In Azerbaijan, adult body length is about 62–78 cm plus a short tail. A Georgia-only series is not on this page.
At species level, small rodents and lizards; juveniles also insects. There is no Georgian diet study on this page.
Globally Least Concern (IUCN, 2009). It is not on Georgia’s 2014 Red List. Armenia and Azerbaijan treat it as nationally Vulnerable.
References
Sources
References
Sources
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Iankoshvili & Tarkhnishvili 2021 — Distribution of snakes in Georgia
- Jandzik, Avcı & Gvoždík 2013 — Lineages within Zamenis hohenackeri
- Hofmann et al. 2018 — Subspecies of Zamenis hohenackeri
- Utiger et al. 2002 — Molecular systematics of ratsnakes; transfer to Zamenis
- Iskanderov, Ahmedov & Qasymova 2017 — Morphology and records in Azerbaijan
- Arakelyan et al. 2013 — Red Data Book of Armenia, Zamenis hohenackeri
- Hraoui-Bloquet et al. 2009 — IUCN Red List, Zamenis hohenackeri
- The Reptile Database
- საქართველოს მთავრობის დადგენილება №190 (2014) — წითელი ნუსხა
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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