Western Rat Snake
Pantherophis obsoletus
Western/Texas Rat Snake 2
The Western or Texas Rat Snake is the longest snake found at the Arboretum, reaching up to 6 feet long (although they are usually around 4 feet long). These slender, elegant snakes have variable coloration, but the usual morph is a brownish gray with darker brown, rectangular blotches down the body. The head is usually dark gray with white lip scales. The skin between the scales is usually reddish orange. Some individuals are entirely blackish gray above and white below, but still retain the red color between the scales. True to their names, rat snakes eat primarily rodents, but may also eat birds, bird eggs, lizards, frogs, other snakes, and a variety of other prey. They are exceptional climbers and are able to scale tall trees and buildings. This is the snake species most likely to find its way into a house - usually the garage or attic. Despite their intimidating size, they are harmless and are wonderful neighbors, eating pests and reducing rodent populations.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Todd Pierson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/twpierson/5180564044/
- Adapted by hancnaturalist from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantherophis_obsoletus
More Info
iNat Map
| Pattern | bands |
|---|---|
| Color | black, brown, gray, orange, red, white |
| Texture | smooth |
