Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When you all are refering to Jet Black is the chin and skin in between the scales jet black? I have lived in Kansas for about 12 years and other than juvinal black rats all we have is jet black and the occasional morph. They are all indigo black but chin is white and if they are puffed up or have eaten a large meal you can see skin pattern.
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Hi Bill,
What you described is pretty much as jet black as they get. The most coloring I've seen on the chin is black edging mostly around the lower labials, being otherwise white. I once had a large male from Greenville SC that had all the upper labials black. His chin was white with lower labial markings. Even the blackest ones have lighter skin between their scales that can be red, white or greyish, at least anteriorly. It seems like an occasional one even with the scales distended will have the pattern only slightly visible. If they do come any darker, that would be a beautiful snake. I've never seen totally black ventrals but I've seen them mostly dark with ventrals under the neck being white or yellow with heavy black mottling. If any body knows of blacker ones, please share.
Alan,

What up AG-man. You still up for a Carolinas romp in a month or so?

dg

Hey Dwight,
How about in 2 months? I'll contact you soon with details. Probably last week of April for about 3 or 4 days.

I will snap some pics this year. Ours have black ventrals.
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

>>When you all are refering to Jet Black is the chin and skin in between the scales jet black? I have lived in Kansas for about 12 years and other than juvinal black rats all we have is jet black and the occasional morph. They are all indigo black but chin is white and if they are puffed up or have eaten a large meal you can see skin pattern.

That sounds like what I'd call jet black. Basically a 'racer' looking snake without blotching or white speckling as adults. I'd like to see photos of your black rats from Kansas as well as the morphs. That is one state that I've never been to and caught an obsoleta (but its on the list!)

dg

Sighthunter has seen this one already Wild Caught early 2005.

Dawns is young and will most likley go black but the strange thing about hers is that most if not all the juvies out here have red in that chainlink skin pattern. Hers is black on white.
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Here's one that Alan Gerry sent me three or so years ago. The photo was taken by Dwight, I think. I believe the snake came out of Nebraska, but I'm not sure. Do you remember this one Alan?

That one came from northwestern Arkansas. How's she doing by the way?

She has been doing fine. She stopped eating back in October, so I put her into brumation. She's out, now, and still doesn't want to eat. So, she's scheduled for a vet visit next month, if she doesn't change her ways.

She has always been very calm and handleable. The other WCBR snake turned into one of Satan's spawn. Man, what a mean snake!

That's one dyn-no-mite snake...