User:RobThePoor/Four-lined Ratsnake (Elaphe quatuorlineata)

The Four-lined Ratsnake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) is a non-venomous snake of the family Colubridae and occurs throughout southern Europe and Asia Minor. One of the longest snakes to inhabit the region, adults can reach up to 240cm in length, although they are seldom to be found longer than about 160cm in length.

Adults are characterised by yellow-beige underparts and a mid-brown back, with four longitudinal blackish-brown stripes (whence the name), stretching from the neck along the entire length of the body. The top of the head is similarly mid-brown, with blackish eyes and a pronounced blackish-brown stripe stretching diagonally back from the eye to the gape (hindmost part of the mouth-opening). Young snakes are characterised by large black spots on a grey background.