Elaphe obsoleta spiloides
Gray Rat Snake
Elaphe obsoleta spiloides: Taxonomy | Info | Photographs
- Kingdom: Metazoa ((=Animalia) multicellular animals)
- Phylum: Chordata (chordates)
- Class: Reptilia (reptiles)
- Order: Squamata (snakes, lizards)
- Family: Colubridae (colubrid snakes)
- Genus: Elaphe
- Species: Elaphe obsoleta spiloides
- Common Names: Gray Rat Snake, Oak Snake
Elaphe obsoleta spiloides is one of three subspecies of Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta) in Florida:
- Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata (Yellow Rat Snake)
- Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni (Everglades Rat Snake)
- Elaphe obsoleta spiloides (Gray Rat Snake)
The Gulf Hammock Rat Snake was formerly considered to be its own subspecies, Elaphe obsoleta williamsi, but is now considered to be an intergrade (interbreed) between Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata and Elaphe obsoleta spiloides.
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Elaphe obsoleta spiloides - This small Gray Rat Snake was found peeking out of a small crack in an exterior wall about 7.5 feet above the ground. The snake in this photograph may possibly be a Gulf Hammock Rat Snake (see the subspecies information above), but because its body remained concealed within the wall, it was not possible to determine this based on the patterns.
Tallahassee, FL
April 2, 2002
Photo contributed by Josh Hillman
Elaphe obsoleta spiloides - This is a closer view of the same snake as in the above photo.
Tallahassee, FL
April 2, 2002
Photo contributed by Josh Hillman
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Elaphe obsoleta spiloides - This small Gray Rat Snake was found peeking out of a small crack in an exterior wall about 7.5 feet above the ground. The snake in this photograph may possibly be a Gulf Hammock Rat Snake (see the subspecies information above), but because its body remained concealed within the wall, it was not possible to determine this based on the patterns.
Elaphe obsoleta spiloides - This is a closer view of the same snake as in the above photo.