---
title: "Japanese Four-lined Ratsnake"
description: "Elaphe quadrivirgata — Reptiles. Elaphe quadrivirgata, commonly known as the Japanese four-lined ratsnake or the Japanese striped snake (Japanese: shimahebi = striped snake), is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake native to Japan."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/japanese-four-lined-ratsnake
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Japanese Four-lined Ratsnake

> Elaphe quadrivirgata — Reptiles. Elaphe quadrivirgata, commonly known as the Japanese four-lined ratsnake or the Japanese striped snake (Japanese: shimahebi = striped snake), is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake native to Japan.

- Scientific name: *Elaphe quadrivirgata*
- Category: `reptiles` (Reptiles)
- Habitats: `forest` (Forest)
- iNaturalist observations: 1262
- Wikidata: [Q2705745](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2705745)
- iNaturalist taxon: [68340](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/68340)

## Names

- en: Japanese Four-lined Ratsnake
- de: Japanische Vierstreifennatter
- nl: Japanese striped snake

## Countries with the most observations

JP (1177), RU (11)

## Summary

Elaphe quadrivirgata, commonly known as the Japanese four-lined ratsnake or the Japanese striped snake (Japanese: shimahebi = striped snake), is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake native to Japan.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_striped_snake

## Photo

![Japanese Four-lined Ratsnake](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/japanese-four-lined-ratsnake/medium.jpg)

Photo: kkacheltje · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50338520

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/japanese-four-lined-ratsnake?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).