Eastern/Central Ratsnake Complex

About the Eastern/Central Ratsnake Complex

The central ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), 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 the family Colubridae. The gray ratsnake is one of eight species within the American ratsnake genus Pantherophis.

The generic name Pantherophis, meaning "panther-like snake", is from Ancient Greek: πάνθηρ: pánthēr, "panther" and Ancient Greek: ὄφις: óphis, "snake". The specific name name alleghaniensis, meaning "of the Allegheny Mountains", refers to the Allegheny Mountains in eastern North America.

A medium to large serpent, the gray ratsnake typically reaches an adult size of 99–183 cm (3.25–6.00 ft) total length (including tail); however, the record is 213.9 cm (7.02 ft). Unlike other Pantherophis, whose conspicuous juvenile pattern fades into adulthood, the gray ratsnake in the southern part of its range does not undergo drastic ontogenetic changes in color or markings. Instead, it retains the juvenile pattern of dark elongate dorsal blotches separated by four, or more, pale gray body scales, a light gray crown with... Wikipedia →