Black Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus)
Created: May 2nd, 2011 - 12:02 PM
Last Modified: May 5th, 2011 - 09:26 AM Entered by: Cameron Peebles
Record 75222
Last Modified: May 5th, 2011 - 09:26 AM Entered by: Cameron Peebles
Record 75222
Country: United States |
State: Missouri |
County: Jackson County |
Time: 2011-04-30 18:40:00 |
|
Qty: 1 |
Age: Adult |
Sex: -- |
Method: Artificial cover flipping |
Habitat: Field |
Body Temperature: ----- |
Air Temperature: 70.00F |
Ground Temperature: ----- |
Humidity: ----- |
|
Sky Conditions: Clear |
Moon Phase: ----- |
Elevation: ----- |
Barometric Pressure: ----- |
Notes
This is actually a Black Ratsnake, however that subspecies is apparently no longer recognized.
Vouchers












Comments
Fair enough. P. obsoletus it is. I just wish the common name wouldn't say "Texas Rat Snake"
Most people either don't understand and/or strongly disagree with the recent taxonomic changes in the rat snakes. By range your snake is an obsoletus, and a long way from alleghaniensis.
The taxonomy was based off this document:
http://cnah.org/pdf_files/968.pdf
The applicable range map can be found on page 40.
I'm confused on what to do. The folks on the FHF are telling me P. alleghaniensis is correct, yet I was under the impression it was E. obsoleta and you're telling me it should be P. obsoletus (which makes sense to me, and that's what I originally listed it as). I'm lost as to what I should do. Please refer to this thread: http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5924
The database has the wrong common name for this species. It should be listed as "Western Ratsnake". I wouldn't worry about that though. Obsoletus is the correct species. Alleghaniensis only refers to rat snakes from east of the Appalachian Mountains
Pantherophis obsoletus shows up as the Texas Ratsnake, and this is definitely not a Texas Ratsnake. I can't find any options for "Black Ratsnake"
Nice rat snake. Should be entered as Pantherophis obsoletus rather than P. alleghaniensis.