Black Rat Snake
(Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta)
DESCRIPTION: 42-101" (106.7-256.5 cm). Long, powerful constrictor with 3 different adult color patterns predominating: plain, striped, and blotched.
Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)
The Black Rat Snake is one of the largest snakes found in Connecticut. It is sometimes confused with the Black Racer, which
has smoother scales than the somewhat keeled rat snake.
Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta) at Bird Feeder
Black Rat Snakes are notoriously ingenious at climbing trees to raid bird's nests. This series of photos shows one snake's efforts to turn bird feeders into snake feeders! ...
Black Rat Snakes are among the largest of Minnesota's snakes. Adults range from 40 to 74
inches in length. The record is 101 inches (Conant and Collins, 1991). It is non venomous and, ...
Black rat snakes are found in a variety of settings including farm areas, upland wooded areas, swampy areas, and near human habitation. The well patterned young are often mistaken for other snakes, including pygmy rattlesnakes.
Black Rat Snake
Taxonomy
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Genus/species: Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta ...
The Black Rat Snake is a proficient climber. Often it goes rather high up into trees, where it uses cavities or hollows formerly occupied by other animals such as birds or mammals.
Black rat snakes are one of the longest snakes in North America, occasionally reaching lengths of 8 feet.
2.
When threatened, rat snakes will "rattle" their tail, fooling other animals into believing they are venomous.
The black rat snake is the largest Canadian snake, growing up to 2.5 m in length. They are excellent climbers and are probably one of the few arboreal (tree-dwelling) snakes.
Albino Black Rat Snake
Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta
A 6 foot plus, heavy bodied ratsnake. I really like them because they have an attitude. It almost appears as if they look at you to say, "Where is my rat?
When looking for snakes, you might not think to look up. But, if you want to see the black rat snake, you just might have to. This long and muscular snake is Wisconsin's only arboreal (that means tree-dwelling) snake.
Black Rat Snake
Click on images to enlarge
Pantherophis alleghaniensis (42-72", up to 101") ...
Black rat snake Gray Yellow Integrades
Description: Adult rat snakes are typically 3-5 ft (91-152 cm), but large individuals may be more than 6 ft (183 cm) long. The appearance of rat snakes varies greatly throughout the geographic range.
Black Rat Snake
(Elpahe obsoleta obsoleta)
Gray Rat Snake
(Elaphe obsoleta spiloides) ...
Black Rat Snake
Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta (scientific) . Eastern Rat Snake (alternative)
The Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) - also called pilot black snake or simply black snake - is a non-venomous colubrid species found in North America.
Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta)
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Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) ...
The black rat snake, as the name states, is completely black except for their white chin. Hatchlings of the black rat snake have a pale grey background with black blotches along its back.
Predators on fledglings include black racer (Coluber constictor), black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta), and blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata).
constrictor, is easily confused with the constricting black rat snake, or pilot black snake (Elaphe obsoleta), which may account for its misleading Latin name.
This species was long considered the same species as the Black Rat Snake, Texas Rat Snake, Yellow Rat Snake, and Everglades Rat Snake.
Miscellaneous: Although they are often confused with the black rat snake, the black racer can be easily distinguished by their smooth scales.
Kennicott used Ophibolus, Lampropelitis getulus and Bascanion constrictor for Coluber constrictor (Racer) and Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta (Black Rat Snake).
Eggs and chicks are vulnerable to chipmunks, raccoons, Blue Jays, American Crows, black rat snakes, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Common Grackles, southern flying squirrels, gray squirrels, least weasels, white-footed mice, domestic cats, Great Horned Owls, ...
This snake is social and may overwinter in a communal den with other snakes of its own kind or with other species of snakes including timber rattlesnakes and black rat snakes.
Some other harmless snakes that you may find in your yard are black rat snakes, fox snakes, hognose snakes and banded water snakes.
Osage Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix phaeogaster) The black snake in the background is a Black Rat Snake.
Photograph by Tad Arensmeier. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
OSAGE COPPERHEAD FACTS ...
Some available subspecies include the Black Rat Snake E. o. obsoleta, the Florida Rat Snake E. o. rossalleni, and the Grey Rat Snake E. o. spiloides, as well as many intergrades and color variations.
Recorded from Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties. Local subspecies called "Black Rat Snake". Listed as Endangered.
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Heterodon platirhinos ...
The subspecies of obsolete include the black rat snake (E. o. obsolete), the gray rat snake (E. o. spiloides), the yellow rat snake (E. o. quadrivittata), the Everglades rat snake (E. o. rossalleni) and the Texas rat snake (E. o. lindheimerii).
 See also: Black rat, Rat snake, Snake, Rat, Racer
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