King ratsnake eats cobras and vipers. Its genome may explain how

A nonvenomous snake that regularly hunts and eats some of the world's most dangerous venomous snakes has given scientists a new mystery to solve. Researchers have now mapped the genome of the king ratsnake to understand how it survives the venom of cobras, kraits and vipers.The king ratsnake (Elaphe carinata) is found across East Asia. The species is known for attacking and eating venomous snakes, unlike many other nonvenomous snakes that mainly feed on rodents or birds. Although scientists were aware of the king ratsnake's unusual ability, but they did not know the biological reasons behind.Now, a team of researchers has produced a chromosome-level reference genome for the species. Their work provides an important genetic resource that could help scientists study venom resistance, snake evolution and even improve future antivenom research.