Ptyas nigromarginata
species of reptile
Ptyas nigromarginata, commonly known as the green rat snake or black-bordered rat snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to parts of Southeast Asia, including regions of China, India, Myanmar, and Vietnam. This slender, agile snake is characterized by its striking green coloration, often accompanied by a distinctive black border along its dorsal scales.
Geographic range
P. nigromarginata is found in Bhutan, Nepal, India (Darjeeling, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland), northern Bangladesh, northern Myanmar (Burma), China (Guizhou, Yunnan, southwestern Sichuan, southeastern Xizang (Tibet]), and possibly northern Vietnam. The type locality is Darjeeling, India.
It has been recorded from elevations between 500m to 2300m.
Description
A large snake, P. nigromarginata may attain a total length of 2.26 m (7.4 ft), which includes a tail 0.65 m (2.1 ft) long. Dorsally, it is green, with each dorsal scale edged in black. The top of the head is brownish. In adults, there are four broad black stripes on the posterior third of the body and on the tail.
The public source identifies “Ptyas nigromarginata” as species of reptile. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Ptyas, nigromarginata and species.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Ptyas nigromarginata”, the useful work is to connect “species of reptile” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated May 19, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1038943. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Ptyas nigromarginata”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Ptyas nigromarginata primary sources, Ptyas nigromarginata archive and Ptyas research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Ptyas nigromarginata”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Ptyas nigromarginata” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.