Elaphe

Elaphe is a genus of nonvenomous snakes in the family Colubridae, commonly referred to as rat snakes. Historically, it included a number of Old World species native to Europe and Asia, with some populations extending into the Middle East. Members of Elaphe are typically medium to large, often striped or blotched, and are adept climbers as well as ground dwellers. They feed mainly on rodents, birds, and their eggs, and kill by constriction. Reproduction is generally oviparous, with females laying eggs in warm seasons and providing little to no parental care after oviposition.

Taxonomy and status have been dynamic. Molecular studies have led to widespread reclassification, and many species formerly placed in Elaphe have been reassigned to other genera, notably Pantherophis (the North American rat snakes, including the former Elaphe guttata, now Pantherophis guttatus) and Zamenis (European species). As a result, the use of Elaphe varies by authority: some retain a small core group, while others regard the genus as obsolete or as a synonym of other genera. This reflects ongoing revisions in snake systematics and the differing treatments of historical classifications.

In captivity, several species once listed in Elaphe remain popular in the pet trade, especially the corn snake, now often referred to as Pantherophis guttatus. Conservation considerations are region-specific, with habitat loss and collection impacting certain populations more than others. Overall, Elaphe refers to a historically broad grouping of rat snakes whose exact circumscription has changed with advances in phylogenetic study.