and, despite extensive internet and literature searches, can't find a whole lot about them...lots of the internet info. was in German or Japanese (and by the way the Google translations are HILARIOUS), and American literature either doesn't mention them, or dismisses them as "dull" or "not colorful"...I did learn they need to be kept cooler than N. American rats...but any other help would be appreciated..



Also, I was very interested in the Asian ratsnake discussion further down...so the current thinking is that N. American Elaphe came from Asian Elaphe that crossed the land bridge? And now the American group has evolved so differently that they're Pantherophis instead of Elaphe? Is that based just on DNA, or are there other differences? I must say that when I showed my new snake to a co-worker, he immediately said "Oh, a baby black rat snake; I found one of those last summer"...and except for the faint greenish tinge on the Japanese rat and some subtle pattern differences, he's right...very, very similar...



SR

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