gray ratsnake

The gray ratsnake or gray rat snake (Pantherophis spiloides), also commonly known as the central ratsnake, chicken snake, midland ratsnake, or pilot black snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the genus Pantherophis in the subfamily Colubrinae. Because the gray ratsnake shares its range with other members of its genus, hybrids of midlands x eastern ratsnakes are not uncommon. Identification. Amphibians and Reptiles of Indiana. State of Illinois Coronavirus Response Site. The legacy of these two studies is that many herpetologists now recognize Indiana's ratsnakes as Gray Ratsnakes (Pantherophis spiloides), although there is not unanimous support for this taxonomy. Breeders choose snakes displaying certain characteristics and breed them to create different colors and patterns. This is probably the most widely known and familiar of Indiana's "black snakes", despite the fact that most individuals are not uniformly black. Finally, Collins and Taggart (2008) proposed the return to the use of the genus Scotophis for these snakes, but few herpetologists support this recommendation.

[9][6] In the state of Georgia, all indigenous, nonvenomous snakes are illegal to kill or capture, and are considered to be in the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The gray ratsnake is one of about ten species within the American ratsnake genus Pantherophis. Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) Gray Ratsnake Pantherophis spiloides. For many years, North American ratsnakes were placed in the genus Elaphe, but Utiger et al.

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Gray Ratsnakes are found throughout Indiana, but are absent from the sand prairies of northwestern Indiana.

View up to date information on how Illinois is handling the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from the Russian Journal of Herpetology 9:105-124. The scales in the middle rows along the back are weakly keeled (ridged) while the remaining scales are smooth. [3] The gray ratsnake is one of about ten species within the American ratsnake genus Pantherophis.

Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography of the polytypic North American rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta): a critique of the subspecies concept. When startled, the gray ratsnake, like other ratsnakes, stops and remains motionless with its body held in a series of wave-like kinks. Instead, it retains the juvenile pattern of dark elongate dorsal blotches separated by four, or more, pale gray body scales, a light gray crown with dark striping that forms an anteriorly facing spearpoint, and a solid band which covers the eyes and extends rearward to the posterior upper labial scales. The gray ratsnake will defend itself by raising its head and bluffing a strike. The snake will also rattle its tail against whatever it is lying on, making an audible buzzing sound. The scales in the middle rows along the back are weakly keeled (ridged) while the remaining scales are smooth. It moves slowly and may freeze in place when disturbed. Coloration varies in this species. Morphs are selectively bred for in captivity. The gray ratsnake averages 42 to 72 inches in length. In the fall it congregates in places like rock outcrops (where it may hibernate with rattlesnakes and copperheads), mammal burrows, cisterns, wells or rotten tree stumps. Gray rat snakes come in a phase known as ‘white oak’ (white with light grey blotches). An agile climber,[6] the gray ratsnake is at home from the ground to the tree tops in many types of hardwood forest and cypress stands, along tree-lined streams and fields, and even around barns and sheds in close proximity to people.

The goal of the monitoring is to find where these snakes spend the winter. They deposit 5 to 27 eggs around mid-summer, and the 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) hatchlings usually emerge in September. Gray Ratsnake (color variations) Photos by Dr. Steve A. Johnson (UF, upper photo) and Patrick Lynch (SFWMD, lower photo). Both of these species have smoother, glossy scales and less extensive patterning as adults. Most Gray Ratsnakes have stippled light coloration, marking the faint remnants of their juvenile banding, that may be white, yellow, orange, or even reddish. Adult racers are uniformly black, blue or gray whereas Black Kingsnakes have scattered white speckling.

Juveniles are light gray with black bands and this pattern is retained, though most often heavily obscured, in adults.

This common species, often referred to as the “chicken snake,” occurs across all of Tennessee. [citation needed] Unlike other Pantherophis, whose conspicuous juvenile pattern fades into adulthood, the gray ratsnake in the southern part of its range does not undergo drastic ontogenetic changes in color or markings. In Canada, this species is known to occur in two disjunct regions of southern Ontario: the Carolinian forest region along the north shore of Lake Erie in the southwest, and the Great Lakes/St. A medium to large serpent, the gray ratsnake typically reaches an adult size of 99–183 cm (3.25–6.00 ft) total length (including tail); however, the record is 247 cm (8.10 ft) for a captive specimen at the Ridley 4-H Center in Tennessee. Maps may include both verified and unverified observations. Utiger, U., N. Helfenberger, B. Schätti, C. Schmidt, M. Ruf, and V. Ziswiler. This snake kills its prey by constriction. This snake lives in rocky hillsides, woodlands, thickets, old fields, barnyards and farm land. Molecular systematics and phylogeny of Old and New World ratsnakes, Elaphe Auct., and related genera (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae). The gray ratsnake may be found in the southern two-thirds of Illinois. These snakes are members of the family Colubridae, which is represented by a total of 28 species in Indiana. Perhaps the most distinctive thing about this species is that it is Indiana's longest snake with adults commonly reaching lengths of six feet (1.8 m) and some individuals recorded at over eight feet (2.5 m) long! (2000) and Burbrink (2001) suggested that what was once considered a single, wide-ranging species of ratsnake in the eastern United States was likely multiple species. Minton, S. A. Jr. 2001.

A scent-hunter and a powerful constrictor, P. spiloides feeds primarily on small mammals, birds, and bird eggs. Systematics of the eastern ratsnake complex (Elaphe obsoleta). 2008. Native to North America, Pantherophis spiloides is commonly found in the forests of the eastern and central United States. Evolution, 54:2107-2118. Burbrink, F. T., R. Lawson, and J. Though Eastern Hog-Nosed Snakes and Common Gartersnakes are sometimes entirely black, this species is most often mistaken for the two other "black snakes" in Indiana: Eastern Racer and Black Kingsnake. Conant, R. and J. T . If handled, it will musk a victim by releasing the foul-smelling contents of its cloaca, and will bite if necessary.

2002. The dorsal scale rows around midbody are usually weakly keeled. These snakes have dark gray blotches on their back, and they have a grayish coloring in general, their bellies also have these dark grey blotches. [6], For the species known as Gray's rat snake, see, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T90069659A90069671.en, Species at Risk Public Registry – Species Profile (Gray Ratsnake), Gray ratsnake, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Gray ratsnake, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Wildlife.org Keeping Georgia Wildlife as Pets, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gray_ratsnake&oldid=982863286, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 10 October 2020, at 20:46. Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America.

However, the gray ratsnake is less likely to bite than other members of its genus,[citation needed] and wounds from a bite rarely require more than a small bandage. [8] The gray ratsnake is listed federally in Canada as "endangered" (Carolinean population) and "threatened" (Great Lakes/St Lawrence population). Breeding in P. spiloides takes place from April to July. Gray rat snakes are huge, and they can be as big as 7 feet in length in some areas of Canada. The gray rat snake has a gray background color with brown to dark gray blotches. Please turn on JavaScript and try again.

Size: Usually 3–6 ft. (max.

This is also the most arboreal snake in the state and spends much of its time in hollow trees and climbing through forest canopies. Third Edition, Expanded. Burbrink, F. T., 2001. The taxonomic history of ratsnakes is contentious and complicated. Herpetological Monographs:1-53. Eggs hatch from late July to September. The Gray Ratsnake (Elaphe spiloides) is the largest snake in Canada, reaching a maximum snout-vent length (SVL) of approximately 190 cm. Gray Ratsnake Gray Ratsnake, Pantherophis spiloides.

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