Eastern Snakes Forum: Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake.

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To ask a question about a snake, don't reply to this post, go to the forum home page and start a new post. Your question will get a lot more exposure. Please give us an idea of where you live, as reptiles can often be identified only by locality!

Please do not place messages about killing a snake, and asking what kind it is you have killed! That is like going onto a message board about dogs and telling about torturing one to death, and asking what kind of breed it was. You will likely get "flamed", and likely by the forum owner, depending on his mood that day.

A note about head shape in snakes: Head shape is a totally useless character for identifying a snake, and has nothing to do with whether the serpent is or is not venomous (poisonous). Many harmless snakes, especially when young, have rather large heads. Please describe color, pattern, markings, and habitat where the snake was found. The shape of the head will not help us in any way. Thank you. Please post comments on THIS ARTICLE ONLY! To ask a question go here: Home

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake.

Posted by Alex, forum owner on June 28, 2011, 1:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake."

--Previous Message--
:
: [img]https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2094546210637.120785.1454764451&l=3ae5d221e0https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2094546210637.120785.1454764451&l=3ae5d221e0[/img]
: Pictures you suggested. Only have five
: of the first skin...it was only 18
: inches. All others show longer skin.
: Now where do I find information about
: this kind of snake that can help me
: learn about its life and habitat. Is
: there something to do so I don't
: necessarily run into them when I am out
: on the property?
:
: --Previous Message--
: Sounds like a Black Rat Snake or a
: Racer.
:
: Both are rat eaters as it turns out
: :-).
:
: --Previous Message--
: I am currently trying to figure out
: what
: type of snake is living in our home
: area. I admit to being terrified of
: snakes and I am trying to be snake
: friendly and learn about them. I live
: in Richmond, Missouri and yesterday I
: found a big, snake skin curled around
: one of our tiger lilies. I have a
: photo but am not sure how to post it.
: It is grayish black with a tan
: underskin. Of course it is very
: stretched. I am hoping for some sort of
: rat eater.
:
:
:
:
:
Glad Wayne came in here. He is a professor of Herpetology (study of Reptiles and Amphibians), and is far more knowledgeable than I am.
I noticed that in most of the photos, there are no keels on the back of the snake, which argues Racer (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coluber_constrictor ), a very common and harmless snake.
Another skin may be of the Black Rat snake, as I saw the hint of keels.

I did find King Rat Snake on Google, and it referred to a rat snake of China. Yours would be the Black Rat Snake. Curiously, I caught one in my neighborhood Saturday (a suburban high density neighborhood) about 5 feet long, and though nervous at first, never offered to bite. I moved him to a National Forest, and though moving is usually a bad idea, I figured he would have a better chance at survival than in a neighborhood with so many humans.

It is truly a shame our educators do not try to teach people about reptiles, and allows this fear to go on.

Message Thread

Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Chris June 20, 2011, 5:41 pm

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Wayne in Missouri June 22, 2011, 4:52 pm

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Chris June 22, 2011, 7:01 pm

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Alex, forum owner June 22, 2011, 10:01 pm

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Chris June 27, 2011, 5:52 pm

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Chris June 27, 2011, 6:20 pm

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Wayne in Missouri June 28, 2011, 12:17 am

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Chris June 28, 2011, 12:19 pm

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Chris June 27, 2011, 11:09 pm

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Alex, forum owner June 28, 2011, 1:24 pm

Re: Snake skin....can it be used to identify the type of snake. - Chris June 28, 2011, 6:51 pm

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[quote] --Previous Message-- : : [img]https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2094546210637.120785.1454764451&l=3ae5d221e0https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2094546210637.120785.1454764451&l=3ae5d221e0[/img] : Pictures you suggested. Only have five : of the first skin...it was only 18 : inches. All others show longer skin. : Now where do I find information about : this kind of snake that can help me : learn about its life and habitat. Is : there something to do so I don't : necessarily run into them when I am out : on the property? : : --Previous Message-- : Sounds like a Black Rat Snake or a : Racer. : : Both are rat eaters as it turns out : :-). : : --Previous Message-- : I am currently trying to figure out : what : type of snake is living in our home : area. I admit to being terrified of : snakes and I am trying to be snake : friendly and learn about them. I live : in Richmond, Missouri and yesterday I : found a big, snake skin curled around : one of our tiger lilies. I have a : photo but am not sure how to post it. : It is grayish black with a tan : underskin. Of course it is very : stretched. I am hoping for some sort of : rat eater. : : : : : Glad Wayne came in here. He is a professor of Herpetology (study of Reptiles and Amphibians), and is far more knowledgeable than I am. I noticed that in most of the photos, there are no keels on the back of the snake, which argues Racer (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coluber_constrictor ), a very common and harmless snake. Another skin may be of the Black Rat snake, as I saw the hint of keels. I did find King Rat Snake on Google, and it referred to a rat snake of China. Yours would be the Black Rat Snake. Curiously, I caught one in my neighborhood Saturday (a suburban high density neighborhood) about 5 feet long, and though nervous at first, never offered to bite. I moved him to a National Forest, and though moving is usually a bad idea, I figured he would have a better chance at survival than in a neighborhood with so many humans. It is truly a shame our educators do not try to teach people about reptiles, and allows this fear to go on. [/quote]

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