Japanese striped snake; Japanese four-lined ratsnake
A non-venomous snake native to Japan, Elaphe quadrivirgata. Common name in English varies.
The Japanese striped snake is often seen in the Japanese countryside.
シマヘビは毒がないので、見つけても怖がらなくていい。
Since the Japanese striped snake is non-venomous, you don't need to be scared if you find one.
Katakana spelling is common for animal names; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling, also common.
Kanji form is rare; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 縞 (shima, 'stripe') + 蛇 (hebi, 'snake'), referring to the striped pattern on its body.