Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus alleghaniensis)
Rat Snake ( Pantherophis alleghaniensis ) Description: Common, medium-to-large snakes of the Southeast, typically 91-152 cm (3-5 ft) long, though some individuals exceed 183 cm (6 ft). The body cross-section is loaf-shaped rather than round. Scales are weakly keeled, and the anal plate is divided.
They resurrected the genus Pantherophis for the rat snakes north of Mexico, including the following species: Pantherophis obsoletus (and P. alleghaniensis and P. spiloides, if one recognizes those taxa as species), P. guttatus, P. emoryi, P. vulpinus, P. gloydi, and P. bairdi.
Pantherophis obsoletus
Pantherophis obsoletus , also known commonly as the western rat snake , black rat snake (not to be confused with Pantherophis alleghaniensis ), pilot black snake , or simply black snake , [5] is a nonvenomous species of snake in the family Colubridae.
Pantherophis alleghaniensis (formerly Pantherophis obsoletus ) - Harmless; generally avoids confrontation with humans and poses no toxicological threat. May bite if handled roughly, but wounds are superficial.
Central Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)
Central Ratsnake Pantherophis alleghaniensis ** Harmless ** ... Systematics: Originally described as Coluber obsoletus by Thomas Say in 1823 from a specimen collected at "Isle au Vache to Council Bluffs on the Missouri River." Schmidt (1953) restricted the type locality to Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Pantherophis alleghaniensis (formerly P. obsoletus ) - Harmless. They may bite if cornered or handled, but the bite is minor and non-toxic. They are beneficial for rodent control.
Pantherophis obsoletus (Eastern Rat Snake)
Western rat snakes have weakly keeled scales that are otherwise smooth, similar to eastern rat snakes ( Pantherophis alleghaniensis ). Western rat snakes possess slender bodies and adults have a snout-vent length (SVL) between 96 cm and 154 cm.
The central ratsnake ( Pantherophis alleghaniensis ), [3] also commonly known as the black ratsnake , chicken snake , gray ratsnake , midland ratsnake , and pilot black snake , is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. [5] The gray ratsnake is one of eight species within the American ratsnake genus Pantherophis .
The Center for North American Herpetology
Taxonomic Etymology: Named for the fading or loss of pattern in adults. Pantherophis — From Latin panthera (panther) and Greek ophis (ὄφις, " snake "), meaning "panther snake ," likely referencing the animal's bold pattern and stealthy, predatory behavior. obsoletus — Latin for "worn away," "obsolete," or "faded," referencing the dark, unmarked appearance in many ...
Taxonomic Etymology: Named for its panther-like appearance and its distribution in the Appalachian region. Pantherophis — From Latin panthera (panther) and Greek ophis (ὄφις, " snake "), meaning "panther snake ," likely referencing the animal's bold pattern and stealthy, predatory behavior. alleghaniensis — Latinized adjective meaning "from the Allegheny [Mountains ...