Central ratsnake
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The central ratsnake, also commonly known as the black ratsnake, chicken snake, gray ratsnake, midland ratsnake, and pilot black snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of
Gray Ratsnake
Juvenile skin pattern
Adult
Pantherophis alleghaniensis displaying its ability to climb trees.
Pantherophis obsoletus
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Pantherophis obsoletus, also known commonly as the western rat snake, black rat snake, pilot black snake, or simply black snake, is a nonvenomous species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species
Central ratsnake
…the posterior upper labial scales. However, in the northern part of its range it is black in adulthood, like P. quadrivittatus (yellow ratsnake) and P. obsoletus (western ratsnake). The venter is usually off-white or pale gray with darker irregular blotches, and a double row of black spots behind the divided…
Texas Rat Snake photographed in Liberty Co., Texas. W. L. Farr
A juvenile western ratsnake from northern Missouri, exhibiting a bolder and brighter pattern that often becomes more obscure in maturity.
Shed skin of a black rat snake (Pantherophis sp.) under transmitted light