It intergrades with other subspecies of Elaphe obsoleta, so exact range boundaries are impossible to distinguish.

(2002, Russian J. Herpetology 9:105-124). Eastern Ratsnake - blotched juvenile (upper image) and striped adult (lower image) Photos by Kenney Krysko (FLMNH, upper photo) and Dirk Stevenson (lower photo). Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta Stejneger and Barbour, 1923 Pantherophis obsoleta obsoleta Utiger et al., 2002 Elaphe obsoleta Burbrink, 2001 Elaphe alleghaniensis Burbrink, 2001 Elaphe spiloides Burbrink, 2001 Pantherophis obsoleta Utiger et al., 2002 / Burbrink, 2001 Pantherophis alleghaniensis Utiger et al., 2002 / Burbrink, 2001 They have shiny black scales on their back and a light colored belly, and their throat and chin are white. Recent work with Taxonomy places the New World Rat Snakes in the genus Pantherophis, rather than Elaphe. Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni — TENNANT & BARTLETT 2000: 385 Elaphe alleghaniensis — BURBRINK 2001 Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri — SCHMIDT 2004 Pantherophis obsoletus lindheimeri — HALLMEN 2005 Scotophis alleghaniensis — MESHAKA & COLLINS 2009 Pantherophis alleghaniensis — PYRON & BURBRINK 2009

The snake was wild caught and had been used as a control in blood test studies, so there I was, showing off a large, robust snake with a very bad attitude. Eastern rat snakes, formerly known as black rat snakes, are large non-venomous snakes between 3.5 and 7 feet (one and two meters) long.

The highlight was a 6-foot gray rat snake (Pantherophis [Elaphe] spiloides). There are two separate theories on how they derived the common name of corn snakes. Synonymy: Elaphe vulpina gloydi has been synonymized with P. vulpinus by CROTHER et al.

Corn snakes are nonvenomous snakes found primarily in the southeastern United States. Hybridization: Pituophis catenifer sayi × Pantherophis vulpinus hybridize in nature.

They are popular as pets, and selective breeding has produced many varieties, or morphs. Florida's Snakes Eastern, Yellow, or Everglades Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis [formerly considered a subspecies of Elaphe obsoletus]) NON-VENOMOUS Blotched juvenile Striped adult. Rat snakes are members – along with kingsnakes, milk snakes, vine snakes and indigo snakes – of the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae.They are medium to large constrictors and are found throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere.They feed primarily on rodents and birds.With some species exceeding 2.5 m (8 ft) in total length, they can occupy top levels of some food chains.

Link to Photos Distribution Map: Red rat snake (Elaphe guttatus Or Pantherophis guttatus) Red Rat Snake Picture. 2011.

Genetic studies also indicate that the current species E. obsolete may be composed of three distinct species. Type species: Scotophis vulpinus BAIRD & GIRARD 1853 is the type species of the genus Mintonius COLLINS & TAGGART 2008.

This snake was obtained through a trade with the laboratory of the late Dr. Sherman Minton, Jr. The term “red … Until the early 2000s, both Old and New World rat snakes were generally thought to belong to the same genus, Elaphe.