View source for Biology:Rat snake

{{Short description|Common name for various snakes}}
{{Paraphyletic group
| auto = yes
| image = Zamenis longissimus.jpg
| image_caption = [[Biology:Aesculapian snake|Aesculapian snake]] (''Zamenis longissimus'')
| parent = Colubrinae
| includes_text = Genera
| includes = See text
}}

'''Rat snakes''' are members – along with [[Biology:Kingsnake|kingsnake]]s, [[Biology:Milk snake|milk snake]]s, [[Biology:Oxybelis|vine snakes]] and indigo snakes – of the subfamily [[Biology:Colubrinae|Colubrinae]] of the family [[Biology:Colubridae|Colubridae]]. They are medium to large [[Biology:Constriction|constrictors]] and are found throughout much of the [[Earth:Northern Hemisphere|Northern Hemisphere]].  They feed primarily on [[Biology:Rodent|rodent]]s. Many species make attractive and docile pets and one, the [[Biology:Corn snake|corn snake]], is one of the most popular reptile pets in the world. Like all snakes, they can be defensive when approached too closely, handled, or restrained. However, rat snake bites are not dangerous to humans. Like nearly all [[Biology:Colubridae|colubrids]], rat snakes pose no threat to humans. Rat snakes were long believed to be completely nonvenomous, but recent studies have shown that some Old World species do possess small amounts of venom, though the amount is negligible relative to humans.<ref name="neurotoxin">{{Cite journal |last1=Fry |first1=Bryan G. |last2=Lumsden |first2=Natalie G. |last3=Wüster |first3=Wolfgang |last4=Wickramaratna |first4=Janith C. |last5=Hodgson |first5=Wayne C. |last6=Kini |first6=R. Manjunatha |date=1 October 2003 |title=Isolation of a neurotoxin (alpha-colubritoxin) from a nonvenomous colubrid: evidence for early origin of venom in snakes |journal=Journal of Molecular Evolution |volume=57 |issue=4 |pages=446–452 |doi=10.1007/s00239-003-2497-3 |issn=0022-2844 |pmid=14708577|s2cid=21055188 }}</ref>

Previously, most rat snakes were assigned to the genus ''[[Biology:Elaphe|Elaphe]]'', but many have been since renamed following [[Biology:Mitochondrial DNA|mitochondrial DNA]] analysis performed in 2002.  For the purpose of this article, names will be harmonized with the TIGR Database.

== Species ==

=== Old World rat snakes ===
[[File:Black Rat Snake-.JPG|thumb|Gray rat snake, ''Pantherophis spiloides'']]
[[File:Elaphe oxycephala1.jpg|thumb|Red-tailed green rat snake, ''[[Biology:Gonyosoma oxycephalum|Gonyosoma oxycephalum]]'']]
[[File:Rhynchophis boulengeri head (edited).jpg|thumb|Rhinoceros ratsnake, ''Rhynchophis boulengeri'']]
[[File:Elaphe mandarina.jpg|thumb|Mandarin rat snake, ''Euprepiophis mandarinus'']]
'''''[[Biology:Coelognathus|Coelognathus]]'' spp.'''
* Philippine rat snake, ''C. erythrurus'' <small>(A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)</small>
* Black copper rat snake or yellow striped snake, ''C. flavolineatus'' <small>(Schlegel, 1837)</small>
* Trinket snake, ''C. helena'' <small>(Daudin, 1803)</small>
* Copperhead rat snake, ''C. radiatus'' <small>(F. Boie, 1827)</small>
* Indonesian rat snake, ''C. subradiatus'' <small>(Schlegel, 1837)</small>
'''''[[Biology:Elaphe|Elaphe]]'' spp.'''
* Twin-spotted rat snake, ''[[Biology:Elaphe bimaculata|Elaphe bimaculata]]'' <small>Schmidt, 1925</small>
* King rat snake, ''[[Biology:Elaphe carinata|Elaphe carinata]]'' <small>(Günther, 1864)</small>
* Japanese rat snake, ''E. climacophora'' <small>(H. Boie, 1826)</small>
* David's rat snake, ''[[Biology:Elaphe davidi|E. davidi]]'' <small>(Sauvage, 1884)</small>
* Dione rat snake, ''E. dione'' <small>(Pallas, 1773)</small>
* Japanese four-lined rat snake, ''[[Biology:Japanese striped snake|E. quadrivirgata]]'' <small>(H. Boie, 1826)</small>
* Four-lined snake, ''E. quatuorlineata'' <small>(Lacépède, 1789)</small>
* Red-backed rat snake, ''E. rufodorsata'' <small>(Cantor, 1842)</small>
* Eastern four-lined snake, ''E. sauromates'' <small>(Pallas, 1811)</small>
* Russian rat snake, ''[[Biology:Elaphe schrenckii|E. schrenckii]]'' <small>Strauch, 1873</small>
'''''[[Biology:Euprepiophis|Euprepiophis]]'' spp.'''
* Japanese forest rat snake, ''E. conspicillatus'' <small>(H. Boie, 1826)</small>
* Mandarin rat snake, ''E. mandarinus'' <small>(Cantor, 1842)</small>
'''''[[Biology:Gonyosoma|Gonyosoma]]'' spp.'''
* Green trinket snake, ''[[Biology:Gonyosoma frenatum|G. frenatum]]'' <small>(Gray, 1853)</small>
* Celebes black-tailed rat snake, ''[[Biology:Gonyosoma jansenii|G. jansenii]]'' <small>([[Biography:Pieter Bleeker|Bleeker]], 1858)</small>
* Red-tailed green rat snake, ''[[Biology:Gonyosoma oxycephalum|G. oxycephalum]]'' <small>(F. Boie, 1827)</small>
'''''[[Biology:Oreocryptophis|Oreocryptophis]]'' spp.'''
* Mountain rat snake, ''O. porphyracea'' <small>(Cantor, 1839)</small>
'''''Orthriophis'' spp.'''
* Cantor's rat snake, ''O. cantoris'' <small>(Boulenger, 1894)</small>
* Hodgson's rat snake, ''O. hodgsoni'' <small>(Günther, 1860)</small>
* 100 flower rat snake, ''O. moellendorffi'' <small>(Boettger, 1886)</small>
* Beauty snake, ''O. taeniurus'' <small>(Cope, 1861)</small>
'''''[[Biology:Ptyas|Ptyas]]'' spp.'''
* Keeled rat snake, ''[[Biology:Ptyas carinata|P. carinata]]'' <small>(Günther, 1858)</small>
* ''P. dhumnades'' <small>(Cantor, 1842)</small>
* Sulawesi black racer, ''P. dipsas'' <small>(Schlegel, 1837)</small>
* White-bellied rat snake, ''[[Biology:Ptyas fusca|P. fusca]]'' <small>(Günther, 1858)</small>
* Chinese rat snake, ''[[Biology:Ptyas korros|P. korros]]'' <small>(Schlegel, 1837)</small>
* ''[[Biology:Ptyas luzonensis|P. luzonensis]]'' <small>(Günther, 1873)</small>
* Oriental rat snake, ''[[Biology:Ptyas mucosa|P. mucosa]]'' <small>([[Biography:Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758)</small>
* Green rat snake, ''[[Biology:Ptyas nigromarginata|P. nigromarginata]]'' <small>(Blyth, 1854)</small>
'''''Rhadinophis'' spp.'''
* Green bush snake, ''R. prasinus'' <small>(Blyth, 1854)</small>
'''''[[Biology:Rhynchophis|Rhynchophis]]'' spp.'''
* Rhinoceros ratsnake, ''R. boulengeri'' <small>Mocquard, 1897</small>
'''''[[Biology:Zamenis|Zamenis]]'' spp.'''
* Transcaucasian rat snake, ''Z. hohenackeri'' <small>(Strauch, 1873)</small>
* Italian Aesculapian snake, ''Z. lineatus'' <small>(Camerano, 1891)</small>
* Aesculapian snake, ''Z. longissimus'' <small>(Laurenti, 1768)</small>
* Persian rat snake, ''Z. persicus'' <small>(F. Werner, 1913)</small>
* Ladder snake, ''[[Biology:Ladder snake|Z. scalaris]]'' <small>(Schinz, 1822)</small>
* Leopard snake, ''Z. situla'' <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>

[[File:Black Rat Snake.jpg|thumb|Black ratsnake, ''Pantherophis obsoletus'' (formerly ''Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta''): The blue eyes indicate the snake is in a shed cycle.]]
[[File:Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata.jpg|thumb|Yellow rat snake ''Pantherophis sp.'' (formerly ''Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata'') from Florida]]

=== New World rat snakes ===
'''''[[Biology:Bogertophis|Bogertophis]]'' spp.'''
* Baja California rat snake, ''B. rosaliae'' <small>(Mocquard, 1899)</small>
* Trans-Pecos rat snake, ''B. subocularis'' <small>(Brown, 1901)</small>
'''''[[Biology:Pantherophis|Pantherophis]]'' spp.'''
* Eastern rat snake, ''[[Biology:Pantherophis alleghaniensis|P. alleghaniensis]]'' <small>(Holbrook, 1836)</small>
* Baird's rat snake, ''[[Biology:Pantherophis bairdi|P. bairdi]]'' <small>(Yarrow, 1880)</small>
* Great Plains rat snake, ''[[Biology:Pantherophis emoryi|P. emoryi]]'' <small>(Baird & Girard, 1853)</small>
* Eastern fox snake, ''[[Biology:Pantherophis gloydi|P. gloydi]]'' <small>(Conant, 1940)</small>
* Corn snake, ''P. guttatus'' <small>(Linnaeus, 1766)</small>
* Black rat snake, ''P. obsoletus'' <small>(Say, 1823)</small>
* Western fox snake, ''[[Biology:Pantherophis ramspotti|P. ramspotti]]'' <small>(Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011)</small>
* Gray rat snake, ''P. spiloides'' <small>(A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)</small>
* Eastern fox snake, ''[[Biology:Pantherophis vulpinus|P. vulpinus]]'' <small>(Baird & Girard, 1853)</small>
'''''[[Biology:Pseudelaphe|Pseudelaphe]]'' spp.'''
* Mexican rat snake, ''P. flavirufa'' <small>(Cope, 1867)</small>
'''''[[Biology:Senticolis|Senticolis]]'' spp.'''
* Green rat snake, ''S. triaspis'' <small>(Cope, 1866)</small>
'''''[[Biology:Spilotes|Spilotes]]'' spp.'''
* Chicken snake or yellow rat snake, ''[[Biology:Spilotes pullatus|S. pullatus]]'' <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>
''[[Social:Nota bene|Nota bene]]'': In the above species lists, an authority's name in parentheses indicates that the [[Biology:Species|species]] was originally described in a different [[Biology:Genus|genus]]. An authority's name not in parentheses indicates that the species is still assigned to the original genus in which it was described.

== Taxonomy ==
In recent years, some taxonomic controversy has occurred over the genus of North American rat snakes.  Based on mitochondrial DNA, Utiger et al. (2002) showed that North American rat snakes of the genus ''Elaphe'', along with closely related genera such as ''Pituophis'' and ''Lampropeltis'', form a monophyletic group separate from Old World members of the genus. They therefore suggested the resurrection of the available name ''Pantherophis'' Fitzinger for all North American taxa (north of Mexico).<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Utiger U, Helfenberger N, Schätti B, Schmidt C, Ruf M, Ziswiler V |year=2002 |title=Molecular systematics and phylogeny of Old and New World ratsnakes, ''Elaphe'' auct., and related genera (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae) |journal=Russian Journal of Herpetology |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=105–124 |url=http://sierraherps.com/pdf/Utiger%20et%20al_2002.pdf |access-date=14 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924101659/http://www.sierraherps.com/pdf/Utiger%20et%20al_2002.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="CNAH">[http://www.cnah.org/detail.asp?id=128 ''Elaphe obsoleta''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414082128/http://www.cnah.org/detail.asp?id=128 |date=14 April 2009 }} at [http://www.cnah.org/ The Center for North American Herpetology]. Accessed 20 June 2008.</ref> Crother et al. (2008) accepted the taxonomic change to ''Pantherophis''.<ref name="Cro08">Crother BI, et al. (2008) Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico: 6th edition. Herp. Rev. 37, pp. 58–59. or see [http://home.gwu.edu/~rpyron/publications/Crother_et_al_2012.pdf pp. 64 ff in the 7th edition].</ref>

== Venom ==
Like nearly all [[Biology:Colubridae|colubrids]], rat snakes pose no threat to humans. Although rat snakes were long believed to be completely nonvenomous, recent studies have shown that some Old World species do possess small amounts of venom, though the amount is negligible relative to humans.<ref name="neurotoxin"/> Rat snakes usually hunt and kill mice and other small animals by grasping with their teeth to prevent escape, wrapping their body around that of the prey, and suffocating the prey by constriction.

== In captivity ==
Rat snakes are commonly kept as pets by reptile enthusiasts. The [[Biology:Corn snake|corn snake]], one of the most popular pet reptiles, is a rat snake. New World species are generally thought to be more docile in captivity as opposed to Old World rat snakes, of which the opposite is assumed.<ref name="Bart">{{cite book |last1=Bartlett |first1=Richard D. |last2=Bartlett |first2=Patricia Pope |title=Corn Snakes and Other Rat Snakes: Everything about Acquiring, Housing, Health, and Breeding |publisher=Barron's Educational Series |isbn=978-0-7641-3407-4 |page=8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HN03ObXZduIC&pg=PA8  |year=2006}}</ref>

== Effects of climate change on rat snakes ==

=== Positive impacts ===
All snakes are [[Biology:Ectotherm|ectotherm]] species, meaning they depend on the temperature of the environment to maintain [[Homeostasis|homeostasis]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vieira Andrade |first1=Denis |last2=Gavira |first2=Rodrigo S.B. |last3=Tattersall |first3=Glenn J. |title=Thermogenesis in ectothermic vertebrates |journal=Temperature (Austin) |date=30 December 2015 |volume=2 |issue=4 |page=454 |doi=10.1080/23328940.2015.1115570 |pmid=27227064 |pmc=4843938}}</ref> Although it is predicted that the current rate of [[Earth:Climate change|climate change]] will be too rapid for many reptiles and amphibian species to adapt or to evolve,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bickford |first1=David |last2=Howard |first2=Sam D. |last3=Ng |first3=Daniel J.J. |last4=Sheridan |first4=Jennifer A. |title=Effects of Climate Change on the amphibians and reptiles of Southeast Asia |journal=Biodiversity and Conservation |date=April 2010 |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=1043–1062 |doi=10.1007/s10531-010-9782-4|s2cid=4462980 }}</ref> studies have suggested that a warmer climate may actually be beneficial to rat snake species. Global warming also poses less threats to rat snakes in temperate zones than in tropical zones as rat snake species in temperate zones can tolerate broader ranges of temperature.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |last1=Weatherhead |first1=Patrick J. |last2=Sperry |first2=Jinelle H. |last3=Cargagno |first3=Gerardo L.F. |last4=Blouin-Demers |first4=Gabriel |title=Latitudinal variation in thermal ecology of North American ratsnakes and its implications for the effect of climate warming on snakes |journal=Journal of Thermal Biology |date=July 2012 |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=273–281 |doi=10.1016/j.jtherbio.2011.03.008}}</ref> Global climate change will increase both day and night time temperatures. This will make the night time environment more thermally suitable for rat snakes to hunt, thereby making them more active at night.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last1=Larson |first1=Debra Levey |title=Global warming beneficial to ratsnakes |url=http://news.aces.illinois.edu/news/global-warming-beneficial-ratsnakes |website=ACES Illinois |publisher=College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences |access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> Increasing night time activity allows rat snakes to catch larger prey such as [[Biology:Bird|bird]]s, since female birds usually incubate their eggs in the nest at night and have decreased ability to detect rat snakes due to poor visibility conditions. Global warming may also lead to changes in [[Earth:Predation|predation]]. Rat snakes are prey species to predators like [[Biology:Hawk|hawk]]s. While rat snakes are being hunted during the day, being more active at night due to warmer temperatures may allow rat snakes to be less vulnerable to predation from hawks.<ref name=":2" /> A warming climate also enhances food digestion in rat snakes thereby making them more efficient, which enables rat snake individuals to grow larger in size and allowing them to consume more prey.<ref name=":3">{{cite journal |last1=Knight |first1=Kathryn |title=Timeframe affects snakes' ability to cope with climate change |journal=Journal of Experimental Biology |volume=213 |issue=2 |pages=ii |doi=10.1242/jeb.041467 |year=2010|doi-access=free }}</ref> In comparison to rat snake species at relatively colder regions, rat snake species at lower latitudes tend to be larger in size due to warmer climate conditions. As the global climate warms, the average body size of rat snakes at higher latitudes will become larger, which will allow the species to catch more prey and thus increase their overall reproductive success.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shine |first1=Richard |title=Reproductive Strategies in Snakes |journal=Proceedings: Biological Sciences |date=22 May 2003 |volume=270 |issue=1519 |pages=995–1004 |pmc=1691341 |pmid=12803888 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2002.2307}}</ref>

=== Negative impacts ===
Eastern rat snake species in [[Earth:North America|North America]] are experiencing negative shifts in their behaviour due to Global Warming and increasing temperatures. These shifts differ between the large distribution of rat snakes that range from Ontario to {{wipe|Texas}}.<ref name=":1" /> The increasing Global Warming can negatively impact this species and can be responsible for  population declines in some areas.

Rat snake populations from their northern range, such as Ontario, are experiencing a shift in [[Biology:Hibernation|hibernation]] emergence.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Blouin-Demers |first1=G |last2=Prior |first2=Kent |last3=Weatherhead |first3=P.J. |date=1 June 2000 |title=Patterns of variation in spring emergence by black rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta) |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285943424 |journal=Herpetologica |volume=56 |pages=175–188}}</ref> The populations in these regions typically emerge from hibernation in late April.<ref name=":0" /> However, the increasing variability in temperature may cause rat snakes to emerge on a warm sunny day in the months of February or March.<ref name=":1" /> Climate change has caused winters that can have weather turn back very quickly from sunny periods with high temperatures to snow and below freezing temperatures. The early emergence of these rat snakes will begin to expose them to these fatal conditions if a snake cannot return to its [[Biology:Hibernaculum (zoology)|hibernaculum]] in time.<ref name=":1" /> Therefore, the fluctuations in temperature affect the [[Physics:Thermoregulation|thermoregulation]] that rat snakes need for bodily functions like digestion and movement.<ref name=":3" /> The unpredictability of the weather is causing more rat snakes in their northern range to get caught in these cold snaps and freeze to death.<ref name=":0" />

Increasing temperatures due to climate change have increased the [[Biology:Nocturnality|nocturnal]] activity of rat snakes, especially in warmer climates such as Texas.<ref name=":1" /> This has allowed them to alter their predation habits and feed more on nesting birds and other accessible prey.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sperry |first1=Jinelle |last2=P. Ward |first2=Michael |last3=J. Weatherhead |first3=Patrick |date=1 March 2013 |title=Effects of Temperature, Moon Phase, and Prey on Nocturnal Activity in Ratsnakes: An Automated Telemetry Study |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274775214 |journal=Journal of Herpetology |volume=47 |pages=105–111 |doi=10.1670/11-325|s2cid=33710484 }}</ref> However, their increased nocturnal activity puts them at risk to a new range of nocturnal predators. Rat snakes may not be used to the presence of nocturnal predators such as [[Biology:Raccoon|raccoon]]s and [[Biology:Owl|owl]]s and may be more vulnerable as prey.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=DeGregorio |first1=Brett A. |last2=Westervelt |first2=James D. |last3=Weatherhead |first3=Patrick J. |last4=Sperry |first4=Jinelle H. |date=24 September 2015 |title=Indirect effect of climate change: Shifts in ratsnake behavior alter intensity and timing of avian nest predation |journal=Ecological Modelling  |volume=312 |pages=239–246 |doi=10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2015.05.031 |issn=0304-3800 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Until rat snakes are able to adapt to their relatively new predators, populations may be at risk due to heavy predation.

=== Life history alterations in Ontario gray rat snakes ===
As rat snakes are ectothermic species, they require sunlight and heat to maintain their body temperatures. Across their range in North America each species of rat snake has different ideal body temperatures. In Ontario, the average ideal body temperature of a rat snake is 28.1 degrees Celsius with free ranging gravid females tending to require a bit higher in order to meet their thermoregulatory requirements for gestation.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Blouin-Demers |first1=Gabriel |last2=Weatherhead |first2=Patrick J. |date=1 November 2001 |title=Thermal Ecology of Black Rat Snakes (''Elaphe Obsoleta'') in a Thermally Challenging Environment |journal=Ecology |volume=82 |issue=11 |pages=3025–3043 |doi=10.1890/0012-9658(2001)082[3025:teobrs]2.0.co;2 |issn=1939-9170}}</ref> With ambient air temperatures over the course of their entire active season (from May to September) almost never reaching the required 28.1&nbsp;°C, rat snakes in Ontario resort to basking [[Earth:Habitat|habitat]]s where conditions allow temperatures to rise above normal and up to 43 degrees Celsius at the hottest times of day and year.<ref name=":4" /> These habitats include areas such as rock [[Earth:Outcrop|outcrop]]s, bare ground, or edge habitat where they can bask on tree branches fully exposed to the sun. However, with climate change and an associated increase in ambient air temperature by 3&nbsp;°C, the amount of required time spent by snakes in these habitats will decrease.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Weatherhead |first1=Patrick J. |last2=Sperry |first2=Jinelle H. |last3=Carfagno |first3=Gerardo L.F. |last4=Blouin-Demers |first4=Gabriel |title=Latitudinal variation in thermal ecology of North American ratsnakes and its implications for the effect of climate warming on snakes |journal=Journal of Thermal Biology |volume=37 |issue=4 |pages=273–281 |doi=10.1016/j.jtherbio.2011.03.008 |year=2012}}</ref> This will result in alterations in the amount and time of activity of rat snakes in the province. They will have the potential to be generally more active during both the day and night as it will be easier for them to maintain their ideal body temperature. Habitat choices may also shift with increased temperatures. More time could be spent in areas such as forests or barns where the temperatures are currently too low for the snakes to spend most of their time.<ref name=":4" /> There will be less of a need to expose themselves in their open basking habitats, causing decreases in predator vulnerability as well as increases in thermoregulatory ability and foraging time. In addition, rat snakes in Ontario have a slower growth and maturation rates due to the cooler climate and shorter active seasons compared to other species of rat snakes further South in North America.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Blouin-Demers |first1=Gabriel |last2=Prior |first2=Kent A. |last3=Weatherhead |first3=Patrick J. |date=1 January 2002 |title=Comparative demography of black rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta) in Ontario and Maryland |journal=Journal of Zoology  |volume=256 |issue=1 |pages=1–10 |doi=10.1017/s0952836902000018 |s2cid=85958037 |issn=1469-7998}}</ref> This means that Ontario's rat snakes are more vulnerable to population declines. But, with an increase in temperature and an increase in the duration of the active season from climate change, it is possible that the growth and maturation rates of these snakes will increase.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.psu.edu/dept/nkbiology/naturetrail/speciespages/blackratsnake.htm |title=Black Rat Snake |website=www.psu.edu |access-date=9 April 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
* Black rat snake
* [[Biology:Beauty rat snake|Beauty rat snake]]
* Gray rat snake
* Texas rat snake
* ''[[Biology:Ptyas mucosa|Ptyas mucosa]]''

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Colubrids]]

{{Sourceattribution|Rat snake}}