About Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839)
Oreocryptophis porphyraceus (Cantor, 1839) has a small, sharp, squarish head. Its color pattern features red or orange base coloring, with black bands or stripes. This is a terrestrial species that prefers cool climates, so its habitat is restricted to hills and mountain plateaus. It is crepuscular, meaning it is active from late evening through night, and from dawn through late mornings. It is one of the most sought-after rat snake species kept in captivity. This species is distributed across India (Darjeeling, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh including Miao, Namdapha in Changlang district, and Itanagar in Papum Pare district), Myanmar, Bhutan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, South China (Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hong Kong, Hainan, extending north to Henan and Gansu, and south to the Wei He river), Taiwan, West Malaysia (Cameron Highlands, Pahang), and Indonesia (Sumatra). It has also been reported from Lowachhara National Park in north-eastern Bangladesh. Its given type locality is "India: Assam, Mishmi [Mishmee] Hills." These rat snakes thrive in cool, very humid conditions. They are most often found at altitudes over 800 meters in evergreen moist rainforest or monsoon forests, with exact habitat varying by subspecies and location. They spend most of their time hidden in leaf litter, under moss carpets, or under rocks and logs.
