what kind of snake is this

I give up, what kind is it? SORRY just popped in my head!!!

Zak,

Looks like an Intergrade Black Rat, BUT, where was it caught and is there a pattern on the belly ?

Chicken house he was swallowing an egg and yes there's a pattern on the belly.

Intergrade Black Rat.

They love eggs and the smell when they defecate is wonderful.

I didn't know you had a chicken house ?

Snakeman wrote:They love eggs and the smell when they defecate is wonderful.

Hahaha! That brings back multiple fun memories! lol Nasty stuff!

"That brings back multiple fun memories! lol Nasty stuff!"

Cameron,

Yep. A lasting fun memory.

I don't but my neighbors do. They found it and called me and I went over there to catch it.

He's pretty docile. Never tried to bite. I'm wanting to see if I can get him to eat a rat.

I agree with Larry on both counts-intergrade black rat and they smell great. Eggs always smell better the second time around . Individual specimens vary a lot. It's like a Halloween candy bag-never know what you'll get. I have seen them in some amazing places that even I didn't think they could reach.


Tandy

Lol well so far I haven't smelled anything nasty yet.

Pantherophis has some interesting variety.......I saw one in S. IL. that was completely melanistic with a "slate gray" belly.

I'm not a big Black Rat fan, but there's one "morph" (the "pale-hued") that's really impressive to me.

Jim Burns caught one.

The rat snakes are not my favorite snakes either but I deal with a lot of them because of my work with natives. I do like the variety that I see in them.

Tandy

How come rat snakes aren't very popular? Like the naitive ones?

IMO. Even long-term captives can be pretty nippy and defensive although the bite from even a large one is more annoying than painful. They can be out and have been handled for some time and may turn and bite (or even worse, musk or poop). I think some of their defensive behavior may stem (no pun intended) from the fact that they are very good climbers and may see a threat from things that other snakes may not even notice. They are beautiful snakes but in my experience in general they are pretty defensive in caging where you come in to it from above them. And on the flip side I have had a couple that have been great program snakes too with some considerations on the age of the kids, etc. The Great Plains rats seem to be a little mellower and while pretty are not as large as the black rats and intergrades.

Tandy

I agree with Tandy.

"How come rat snakes aren't very popular? Like the naitive ones?"

"Rat snakes" are popular, depending on what you're talking about. I think the popularity is driven by the natural behavior of the wild-caught individuals. Corn snakes (a type of rat snake) is extremely popular because they usually aren't notoriously defensive when first encountered, making them ideal as a "pet". This also makes captive breeding easy, which eventually led to the most common CB small snake at least in the US. Bullsnakes (pine, gopher, whatever; also a type of rat snake) are common popular snakes because they are easily habituated, making even large adult WC snakes very easily handled. Western, or black, rat snakes USUALLY are extremely defensive when first encountered and foul-smelling. Strike one against it. They tend to be rather flighty and somewhat unpredictable. Strike two. With few exceptions, they aren't extremely attractive, mostly black, with the occasional white, red, or yellow to orange colors on the sides between the scales. Strike three.

However, they are highly adaptable and take to life in captivity very readily, eating any rodent or bird you give it, and habituate easily with regular handling. I have had plenty of black, and "Texas", rat snakes. They are individuals, with their own temperaments, attitudes, and behaviors. I have seen some WC with almost solid white heads. I've seen "Texas" rat snakes that are mostly yellow with black blotches. And I've caught adults that were so gentle, you would almost mistake them for a long-term captive. Some breeders even do sell CB western rat snakes, usually "Texas".

"Bullsnakes (pine, gopher, whatever; also a type of rat snake)"

I see what you mean. When I caught the snake it was easy going, didn't try to strike. The snake is still easy going and he/she ate with out any problems. I saw another one last night on my drive way and that one wasn't so easy going.

Found an app for iPhone called OK snakes that has all the native snakes for ok. I found it useful when coworkers and guests at work ask what kind of snake is in my yard.

I LOVE Rat Snakes!!! But I agree, most "rat snakes" are unpredictable, and they get bad reputations because of it. Most species are definitely very varied in looks and temperament. They are great climbers as Tandy mentioned, and are very attentive to any movements. Most Old and New World species share these qualities, and in general most rat snakes (especially many Asian species) are extremely defensive. In my opinion, Black Rat Snakes are typically one of the more calm and docile species, but of coarse they all have different temperaments). Most of my rat snakes handle fairly well, but sometimes with just one wrong move they will become defensive and readily bite. Most rat snakes are also very quick, and thus sometimes a handful to handle. As far as black rats go, I really like the leucistics and the white-sided morphs, but my very favorite rat snakes are all Asian species.

Richard, most colubrids classified as "Rat Snakes" were all of the snakes previously placed in the genus Elaphe, and as far as I know none of the Pituophis species were ever placed in the genus Elaphe. (refer to the book: "A Monograph of the Colubrid Snakes Elaphe Fitzinger" by Klaus-Dieter Schulz)

"as far as I know none of the Pituophis species were ever placed in the genus Elaphe."

Cameron,

You're right, the genus Pituophis (Bull Snakes, Pine Snakes, Gopher Snakes, etc.) are not rat snakes.

Of course they aren't called rat snakes by common name, but they have the same basic body plan (cross-sectional body shape, squared ventral scales), are powerful constrictors, and have the same diet. That's what I was referring to.

Sheesh, you guys will argue about anything.

"Of course they aren't called rat snakes by common name, but they have the same basic body plan (cross-sectional body shape, squared ventral scales), are powerful constrictors, and have the same diet. That's what I was referring to.

Sheesh, you guys will argue about anything."

Richard,

No arguement, but this forum is for educational purposes also, so it's important to post the correct information.

They aren't "called" rat snakes because they aren't rat snakes.

You can't use the criteria you listed in your response to classify snakes.