Herping in the local grocery store

[SerpentesCiconii]

No problem Steve, you got those updated pics yet?

John

[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!!!

[hoo-t]

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.



Steve

[hoo-t]

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!!!

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

[BastianUSA]

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

[sneakerpro]

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

[MelissaFlipski]

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

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

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.

[icygirl]

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?