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 Texas Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri)

Texas Rat Snake | Elaphe obsoleta-lindheimeri photo
Texas Rat Snake,
Photograph by LA Dawson. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)








TEXAS RAT SNAKE FACTS
Description
The Texas Rat Snake is large snake that is variable in color and pattern throughout its range. They are often yellow or tan in color, with brown or olive green irregular blotches. Snakes from northern parts of the range are darker in color, while those from further south are more yellow. The Texas Rat Snake is the only rat snake with a solid grey head. They may have some red or orange speckling. The underside is plain gray or white. They are agile climbers.

Size
can grow to over 180cm

Environment
swamps, forests , grasslands, farmland, sometimes found in urban areas

Food
The Texas Rat Snake eats rodents, birds, lizards, frogs. which they subdue with constriction. On farmland they sometimes eat young chickens and eggs.

Breeding
The female lays about 12 to 20 eggs which hatch about 65 to 70 days.

Range
found in Texas, also Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma

Notes
Texas Rat Snake is non venomous. They can be aggressive and will often bite if handled.

There are a number of naturally occurring color variations, including albinos (no black pigment), hypomelanistic (lacking dark pigment, and vivid orange and reds highlights), leucistic (white with dark eyes). These color forms have been bred in captivity and are popular pets.

Classification
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata (Serpentes)
Family:Colubridae
Genus:Elaphe
Species:obsoleta lindheimeri
Common Name:Texas Rat Snake


Relatives in same Genus
  Baird's Rat Snake (E. bairdi)
  Emory's Rat Snake (E. emoryi)
  Corn Snake (E. guttata)
  Common Rat Snake (E. obsoleta)
  Western Fox Snake (E. vulpina)







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