noun
Japanese black ratsnake; black Japanese striped snake
A non-venomous snake native to Japan, Elaphe quadrivirgata. Often called 'Japanese black ratsnake' in English. The name literally means 'crow snake'.
See also: 縞蛇 (しまへび)
カラスヘビは日本の固有種で、黒い体に黄色い縞模様がある。
The Japanese black ratsnake is a species endemic to Japan, with a black body and yellow stripes.
A different species, the Japanese striped snake (Elaphe quadrivirgata is sometimes called 縞蛇, but カラスヘビ specifically refers to the black morph).
From 烏 (からす, 'crow') + 蛇 (へび, 'snake'), referring to its black coloration.