Steppe Rat Snake Elaphe dione

The Steppe Rat Snake, also called Dione's Rat Snake, is a non-venomous snake native to eastern Ukraine through to China and Korea. Thanks to Alexandra Makhnina for these photos taken in Kazakhstan.

Despite its name, the Steppe Rat Snake is prevalent in various habitats, not just steppe grassland (forests, wetlands). Typical length is up to some 70cm. Diet is small lizards and mammals (mainly rodents). They gather in large numbers to hibernate, using the same mass hibernation site for life.