Transcaucasian Ratsnake
Zamenis hohenackeri
A harmless, patterned ratsnake; biologically confirmed in the Georgia checklist.
Overview
What is Transcaucasian Ratsnake
The Transcaucasian ratsnake (Zamenis hohenackeri) is a harmless colubrid. Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 treat it as a biologically confirmed species. The subspecies in Georgia is Z. h. hohenackeri. It is genetically close to other populations from the Caucasus and eastern Türkiye. A paper figure locality is Gomaro Village, Adigeni district. It is often confused with the Aesculapian snake (Zamenis longissimus).
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Identification
How to identify Transcaucasian Ratsnake
A harmless ratsnake that keeps a blotched pattern as an adult.
- 01
Round pupil; non-venomous colubrid.
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Adults often stay blotched or mottled — less uniform than Z. longissimus.
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Dark marks on the head and neck are common.
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Confused with the Aesculapian snake.
Quiz
Next: which snake is it?
Transcaucasian Ratsnake is in the Georgia snake quiz. Ten field photos, four names — eye practice, not field ID.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Transcaucasian Ratsnake.
Yes. It is on the checklist as Z. h. hohenackeri. A paper figure specimen is from Gomaro Village, Adigeni district.
Site classification: Harmless. It is a non-venomous colubrid.
Adult Z. hohenackeri is usually more blotched; Z. longissimus is often more uniform. Both are harmless.
Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026: Z. h. hohenackeri. The Reptile Database lists other subspecies for parts of the wider range.
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- Iankoshvili & Tarkhnishvili 2021 — Georgian herpetofauna records cited in Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026
- 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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