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Texas Rat Snake

Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri

Photo by gatorfellows
Published on Project Noah
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33.1527, -97.0182

Field Notes

Description:

The Texas rat snake is a fairly large snake. It can reach 6 feet or 1.8 meters. They vary greatly in color and patterning throughout their range, but they are typically yellow or tan in color, with brown to olive-green, irregular blotching from head to tail. The belly is typically a solid gray or white in color.

Habitat:

This one seems to live in the garden and I see it a couple of times a year sliding across the doorways or driveway.

Notes:

The Texas rat snake has a voracious appetite, consuming large numbers of rodents and birds, and sometimes lizards and frogs which they subdue with constriction. This one had several small lumps along its length.

Reference Links:

Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
AshleyT
That's nice to have him around, and great you are getting the neighbors to not kill him! I saw one of these today and just let him crawl across the road instead of grabbing him and getting bitten. After he crossed the road, I got to see him swim then climb a tree. It was pretty cool :)
gatorfellows
No fear AshleyT; I am not a grabber type of person. It makes me grumpy when I get grabbed, though I have learned biting is frowned on in polite society. This guy loves to hang in my yard and I beg the neighbors, who hate ALL snakes, to leave it alone. :)
AshleyT
Love these guys! So pretty, but if you ever go to grab one, I'm warning you now they are quite grumpy and you should expect a bite! Still great to look at though :)

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Reptiles of the World
Mission
Snakes of the World
Mission
Nature In Your Texas Backyard!
Mission
Snakes of the United States - Center for Snake Conservation
Mission
Texas Master Naturalist Program - Nature Indentification

Tags

Photographed
PublishedMay 24, 2013

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