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Project Noah Nature School
Pantherophis obsoletus
Western Rat Snake (AKA: Texas Rat Snake, Black Rat Snake, Pilot Black Snake, or Black Snake), spotted near Geronimo's Grave site on Fort Sill, OK. This one is preparing to molt, as noted by the foggy appearance of the eyes.
Congratulations SargonR, your Western Rat Snake is our Spotting of the Day!
"Learn about eyes caps and molting with our Spotting of the Day, a nicely patterned Western Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus)! Instead of eyelids, snakes possess as layer of transparent, protective disc-shaped scales covering their eyes. This eye cap is clear and not visible, except when snakes are about to undergo molting. Then their eyes turn a cloudy bluish color for a short period of time as seen here. The eye cap is normally shed along with the rest of the skin. Pantherophis obsoletus is a nonvenomous North American species".
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Spotted on Apr 16, 2017
Submitted on Apr 16, 2017
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