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Project Noah Nature School
Pantherophis alleghaniensis ssp. quadrivittata
More green than actual yellow like I used to see in Yellow Rat Snakes. This one is called a Chicken Snake locally. Two darker lines run down the length of the body and the traditional "rat snake" rectangle pattern runs between them.
Mixed forest.
The photo was taken in an aquarium while I tried to figure out the actual species of this snake. We see this coloring all the time, but never the true yellow that I used to see when I lived in Florida. They always look nearly identical to the one in my photo. Around here they call them "Chicken Snakes" or "Yellow Rat Snakes" - another color of Elaphe obsoleta (I know the taxonomy has changed now). This coloring is clearly shown in Michael E. Dorcas' "A Guide To The Snakes Of North Carolina." So, I've been wondering if it is now just considered a color morph of Elaphe obsoleta, or if I just can't find the proper new taxonomy for it.
Spotted on May 23, 2012
Submitted on Apr 27, 2014
1 Comment
Thanks for posting this. I found a skin of a 6' snake and your photo helped me identify it. I found it near Guntersville State Park, AL