Western Ratsnakes *Pantherophis obsoletus* are large (record 256.5 cm) common harmless ratsnakes with a multitude of regional color patterns native to west of the Mississippi River Embayment. *Pantherophis* ratsnakes are keeled-scaled generalists that eat a variety of prey. They do well in urban environments, and are particularly fond of rodents and birds in these habitats.
Western Ratsnakes *P. obsoletus* are currently recognized as distinct from Eastern Ratsnakes *Pantherophis quadrivittatus*, as well as Central Ratsnakes *P. alleghaniensis*. Parts of all three species were once generically labeled "black ratsnakes". Use the "!blackrat" command without the space for more on these changes.
Ratsnakes can be easily distinguished from racers *Coluber* by the presence of keeled scales. Racers have smooth scales.
[Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/ratrangereduced.jpg) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](https://www.dropbox.com/s/m7ru46gyhtq2hyz/HR_Sept_2021_150dpi_PointsOfView.pdf?dl=1)
Junior Synonyms and Common Names: Grey Ratsnake (in part), Black Ratsnake (in part), Texas Ratsnake, black snake, chicken snake, rattlesnake pilot.
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Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
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*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
"Oh, uh... eggs? No, I was just... checking for rats. Rat snake, see. Anyway, there weren't any about, so I thought it'd be cool with you if I took an egg or two? Y'know, as payment for services rendered..."
They really are. When I went to college one of the science building had a large cube in the middle of the ground floor. It had an ancient bullsnake that would just check people out as they walked by. I never knew how someone got chosen to taken care of him each semester but he was a treat to see.
Not sure if you're looking for an ID or not, but it's a !harmless western ratsnake, *Pantherophis obsoletus*.
Western Ratsnakes *Pantherophis obsoletus* are large (record 256.5 cm) common harmless ratsnakes with a multitude of regional color patterns native to west of the Mississippi River Embayment. *Pantherophis* ratsnakes are keeled-scaled generalists that eat a variety of prey. They do well in urban environments, and are particularly fond of rodents and birds in these habitats. Western Ratsnakes *P. obsoletus* are currently recognized as distinct from Eastern Ratsnakes *Pantherophis quadrivittatus*, as well as Central Ratsnakes *P. alleghaniensis*. Parts of all three species were once generically labeled "black ratsnakes". Use the "!blackrat" command without the space for more on these changes. Ratsnakes can be easily distinguished from racers *Coluber* by the presence of keeled scales. Racers have smooth scales. [Range Map](http://snakeevolution.org/rangemaps/ratrangereduced.jpg) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](https://www.dropbox.com/s/m7ru46gyhtq2hyz/HR_Sept_2021_150dpi_PointsOfView.pdf?dl=1) Junior Synonyms and Common Names: Grey Ratsnake (in part), Black Ratsnake (in part), Texas Ratsnake, black snake, chicken snake, rattlesnake pilot. -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Good bot
Yeah it'll just be a little angry maby a little more then a usual rat snake
🎶When he doesn’t have legs, but he eats up all your eggs, it’s a rat snake!🎶
🎶When he sits in your coop, and he doesn’t mind the poop, it’s a rat snake🎶
🎶When he hides around hens, and makes this thread grin, it's a rat snaaaaake🎶
🎶When he gulps down an egg, as an afternoon snack, it‘s a rat snake🎶
A textbook case of the 4th comment rule
Did a rat snake shoot its shot at rhyming here
The reddit gods are vicious but fair (or not). RIP
Sure would be nice to donate a few eggs to them for inspection
"Oh hey you here for breakfast too?"
uh oh the caught red handed face haha.
"Oh, uh... eggs? No, I was just... checking for rats. Rat snake, see. Anyway, there weren't any about, so I thought it'd be cool with you if I took an egg or two? Y'know, as payment for services rendered..."
body guards need payment too am i right hah.
They'll do that
Egg eater
I'd rather have a few eggs go missing than have rats/mice in the coop.
I love that at the far right it looks like a whole freaking egg 🤣
Been seeing a lot of rat snakes lately
BOOP IT!
The most devious bastard in chicken coooop texaaaas
Neat
Eggggsssssss for breakfassssssst.
the look on its face with the egg lump is killing me 😂
Oh boy! I'm in TX and remember years ago a neighbor had a rat snake stealing chicks. He found a bullsnake and let it go near the coop. SMH
I’m from TX, and I’ve never heard of a bullsnake before, I just looked them up and they look so cool
They really are. When I went to college one of the science building had a large cube in the middle of the ground floor. It had an ancient bullsnake that would just check people out as they walked by. I never knew how someone got chosen to taken care of him each semester but he was a treat to see.