Herping in the local grocery store

No problem Steve, you got those updated pics yet? :)

John

Thats a crazy story!
and the snake looks really healthy on the outside. And has a nice red flicker too.
Good thing they had someone handy who knew what kind of snake it was. or they might have killed him! Good save!!!

As requested, here's a new pic of "Al". Really doesn't look much different. And sorry for the pic quality, he wasn't in the mood to have his picture taken! Oh, I included a couple quarters for size reference.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/files/3/3/7/5/Al.jpg

Steve

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jonny2184

Thats a crazy story!
and the snake looks really healthy on the outside. And has a nice red flicker too.
Good thing they had someone handy who knew what kind of snake it was. or they might have killed him! Good save!!!

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Thanks jonny! His life was in VERY dire straits when I first encountered him. The lady that ran through my dept yelling "There's a snake!" was looking for something to kill him with. I remind him of that daily, and yet he still doesn't appreciate me! He struck several times today while I was trying to get a pic! (Didn't bite me though!)

Steve

So is the snake still with you or did you set it free?

You have to keep him, because most good relationships start with a memorable first meeting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SerpentesCiconii

I may be wrong but he looks more like an emoryi or maybe an emoryi X obsoleta integrade. It just doesn't strike me as a baby obsoleta. Again I could be wrong but that is just my opinion.

John

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by hoo-t

Well, here it is. From "Rat Snakes A Hobbyest's Guide to Elaphe and Kin", about Elaphe Osoleta (I know, old taxonomy)...

"All the subspecies can be distinguished by the absence of a complete "spearpoint" on the head (even in juveniles).

The pictures in the book of the Great Plains Rat Snake match exactly. Soo, its not a black rat snake, but a Great Plains Rat Snake! How 'bout that?!?!?

Thanks John!!!

Steve

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I read Will Bird's and Phil Peak's book "The Snake Hunting Guide." The black bands on Al are very small, but could he be an eastern milk snake? I know OK is very far away, but his markings look like the one on page 48 of their book.

Sorry, I'm a bit new to this, could someone explain this to me? When I see that snake's face I immediately think "Corn". But then again I'm not too familiar with rat snakes. Are you just going by color and pattern? Are their physical shapes any different?