Elaphe carinata carinata

黃頜蛇科 Colubridae

240 cm

台灣全島、馬祖及蘭嶼 2000公尺以下中低海拔區域。

北越南(紅河)、台灣、南中國(甘肅，廣東，廣西，福建，浙江，安徽，四川，雲南，貴州，河南，河北，湖南，湖北，江西，江蘇，山西，山東，陝西）、日本(琉球群島)。

Large snake; total length up to 240 cm. There are 17-25 (21-25 at mid-body) rows of scales, which are heavily keeled except for those in the first or second rows. Head is elongate, slightly triangular; body is moderately heavy or stout; tail is long. Eye is large; iris is light brown to rusty brown, dappled with very fine flecks of dark brown and pupil is round to vertically oval, jet black, surrounded by ring of golden orange. Tongue is flesh-colored to red, with stem usually red and fork tips dark gray to black. Upper head is olive gray to olive brown, and its dorsal shields are distinct due to black pigment in sutures or along margins. Upper body is olive yellow to olive brown, and most scales are distinct due to black pigment on margins; some individuals are uniforms in color, however, others possess ill-defined cross markings on back or ill-defined bands due to combination of scales with black margins and areas with black skin between scales, and in other areas white skin may show between scales. Posterior half of upper body and all upper tail are more uniform in appearance. Ventral head is white to cream; lower labials are usually well marked with black pigment on anterior margins. Ventral neck is cream white to light gray, and pigmentation of irregular size and shape is progressively greater and more intensive toward mid and posterior part of ventral body while spots on outer quarter or third of the ventrals tend to form broken longitudinal lines. Anal scale is divided and subcaudals are paired. In the young the head may be less distinctly marked than in adults. There is a minimum of black pigment along sutures of head shields and the body scales may lack the black margins so characteristic to adults. Some young individuals have dark cross bands anteriorly along the vertebral line, and one or two light brown longitudinal stripes on sides of body and extending onto tail while the ventrals may have little or no pigment.

在空曠的環境牠的行動非常迅速。當受到侵擾的時候會發起攻擊；有些被人捕捉回家馴養的個體，過了好幾個月仍然是野性十足。臭青公的肛門線極為發達，會發出強烈的惡臭。

臭青 公/母 - "當蛇受到侵擾時，會由肛線釋放出強烈的臭味而得名". (Source)