|
| |
|
Red Rat Snake - Elaphe guttata |
| The Red Rat Snake, also known as the Corn Snake, is a
beautiful medium-sized snake, reaching a maximum length of six feet.
It varies considerably in its color patterns, but usually has a row of
large red or rusty bloches with dark margins down the center of its back
and smaller ones on its sides. The background color may be gray,
tan, yellowish or light orange. The underside is a checkerboard of
black and white rectangles. This common snake
can be found in all habitats and may be seen around old buildings or
under trash piles. They feed on mice and rats, which they kill by
constriction before swallowing them head first. When confronted,
it will coil in a S-shape and bite savagely. |
|
|
Yellow Rat Snake - Elaphe obsoleta |
| The yellow rat snake, also known as the chicken snake, is non-venomous; however, it does not hesitate to strike at an aggressor and, if it
makes contact, will hang on and chew. These snakes can also reach a length
of six feet. They are excellent tree climbers, spending a lot of
time in trees, where they feed on birds and their eggs, rodents, lizards, and
frogs. They are sometimes found around chicken coops, hence its nickname,
the Chicken Snake. Rat snakes are constrictors and kill their prey by slowly squeezing
them until they no longer can breathe. As implied by their name, yellow rat snakes are usually yellow to olive in color, with four brown
lateral stripes. Some individuals may have faint blotches across their
back. The belly is light yellow or cream colored. Their tongue is
black. Juveniles have light brown blotches and the four stripes are very
faint.
|
|
|
