Who’sssss thisss [SWFL]

[u/Nogginsmom]

Not seen this one before in my yard. Usually it’s black racers in the yard.

[u/fairlyorange]

Eastern ratsnake Pantherophis quadrivittatus. Completely !harmless rodent exterminator.

[u/Nogginsmom → u/fairlyorange]

Thank you! He looks like the brown snake from NC pictured a couple hours ago. We’ve got rats I see by the water from time to time, he’s here to do his job!

[u/fairlyorange → u/Nogginsmom]

Oh, I'm sure he's helping out :o)

[u/SEB-PHYLOBOT → u/fairlyorange]

Eastern Ratsnakes Pantherophis quadrivittatus are large (record 256.5 cm) common harmless ratsnakes with a multitude of regional color patterns native to eastern North America. Eastern Ratsnakes are more likely to have a yellow base color and stripes. Pantherophis ratsnakes are keeled-scaled generalists that eat a variety of prey. They do well in urban environments, and are particularly fond of rodents and birds in these habitats.

Eastern Ratsnakes are currently recognized as distinct from Central Ratsnakes P. alleghaniensis, as well as Western Ratsnakes P. obsoletus. Parts of all three species were once generically labeled "black ratsnakes". Use the "!blackrat" command without the space for more on these changes.

Ratsnakes can be easily distinguished from racers Coluber by the presence of keeled scales. Racers have smooth scales.

Range Map | Relevant/Recent Phylogeography

P. quadrivittatus likely evolved in peninsular Florida and is tied to the Atlantic Coastal Plain, so coastal areas are home to P. quadrivittatus while Central Ratsnakes P. alleghaniensis occupy the higher elevations inland, up off the coastal plain. The two likely heavily exchange genes.

Junior Synonyms and Common Names: Yellow Ratsnake, Everglades Ratsnake, Grey Ratsnake (in part), Black Ratsnake (in part), Greenish Ratsnake, Gulf Hammock Ratsnake, black snake, oak snake, chicken snake, rattlesnake pilot.

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Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes Diadophis are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; severe envenomation can occur if some species are allowed to chew on a human for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes Thamnophis ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also considered harmless. Check out this book on the subject. Even large species like Reticulated Pythons Malayopython reticulatus rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans so are usually categorized as harmless.

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