The lifespan of
Elaphe spp. is generally 15 years. Males live a little longer than females, but some species, such as
E. guttata (now considered
Pantherophis guttatus), live up to 23 years in captivity. However, other species choose to hibernate in rotting logs, roots of trees, and hollow spaces in elevated tree trunks. Some snakes that live close to human communities even hibernate in old wells and barns. Most of the genus
Elaphe spp. start their hibernation in October and emerge again the next spring. The length of the hibernation varies by species.
Elaphe longissima, or Aesculapian snake, may hibernate from October to May, Species such as black rat snakes, or
E. obsoleta, hibernate with other rat snakes and/or many other snake species, most notably timber
rattlesnakes,
racers, and
bull snakes.
Reproduction E. obsoleta generally starts to mate in late April, May, and early June after the winter hibernation. Males try to attract females with
pheromones, as the females pass through their territories. Male Aesculapian snakes pursue female snakes until they can coil around them. They continue in such position, which is then followed by dancing for up to an hour before
copulation, during which the male snake lines up with the female and holds her in place by wrapping his tail around hers and grasping her with his mouth. Then, the male everts one of his
hemipenes into the female's
cloaca. The mating process lasts from a few minutes to a few hours. After copulation,
Elaphe spp. seek an appropriate place to lay the developing eggs. They usually lay eggs in the soft heart of a rotten log or in sandy soil under a rock. A good place for laying eggs is one that is damp but not wet, and warm but not hot. After laying eggs, the female snake covers them up with sand or soil, and then she leaves. A few species remain with the eggs until they hatch about 9 weeks later. Oviparous
E. obsoleta lays 12–20 eggs under logs or leaves in late summer, which hatch in the fall. The adult snakes return to their hibernation dens in the late fall.
Defense mechanisms Many
Elaphe spp. are known for being nonaggressive and shy. They are prone to freeze their movements when they are shocked or encountering danger. This motionless response has contributed to many road kills of
Elaphe. However, some
Elaphe spp. tend to be more defensive if they are continually provoked. For example,
Texas rat snakes,
Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri, are well known as one of the most snappy and combative rat snakes. In general, their defense system can be broken down to two levels. The first line of defense involves specific behaviors that they use to warn the intruders. One of the most common ways is by coiling their bodies and vibrating their tails, which simulates a rattle. Fox snakes,
Elaphe vulpina (now considered
Pantherophis vulpinus) and
Elaphe gloydi (now considered
Pantherophis gloydi), exemplify this type of defense mechanism; they mimic the rattling vibration of rattlesnakes when they encounter danger. Another common way of defense is by smearing a foul-smelling
musk on their predators. The musk is originated from the contents of the
anal gland and the intestinal tract. The second line of defense, generally involves striking the intruder with their teeth if they are further provoked. ==Locomotion==