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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
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

Posted by Cameron Peebles on May 05, 2011 at 09:24 AM

Fair enough. P. obsoletus it is. I just wish the common name wouldn't say "Texas Rat Snake"

Posted by Nick Mesa on May 04, 2011 at 10:47 PM

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.

Posted by Cameron Peebles on May 04, 2011 at 04:25 PM

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

Posted by Nick Mesa on May 03, 2011 at 08:14 PM

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

Posted by Cameron Peebles on May 03, 2011 at 11:23 AM

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"

Posted by Nick Mesa on May 02, 2011 at 11:10 PM

Nice rat snake. Should be entered as Pantherophis obsoletus rather than P. alleghaniensis.