They're closely related, as I'm sure you know. That appears to be a black rat snake to me, & one with some of the pattern still showing- it happens. They start off with a pattern that mostly darkens & obscures the lighter pigments as they mature. But even then, they don't all look the same- and some have underlying red coloration, while others may have only white (like in your photo). BTW, I've kept & raised black, grey, yellow, amelanistic ("albino') black, & Everglades rat snakes, as well as my current 7 c/b rat snakes that are a blend of yellow + gulf hammock + Everglades- I just call these "Florida blend" LOL! And no, I didn't breed these, I took them in from someone who couldn't keep them, sadly they lost job & home. (I've also kept Baird's, corns, & other kinds, including Trans Pecos & corns that I still keep.)
Check this out- (you're not the only one that's confused!): https://herpunit.wordpress.com/2016/...s-for-dummies/
^ ^ ^ If the experts don't agree, there's not much hope for the rest of us, eh?
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