Reptile & Amphibian Forums

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v260/SchismGrl18/?action=view¤t=100_0871.jpg

My sister found this guy in wild-life preserve in central Arkansas. She said she was pretty sure she saw it in a pond-like body of water, too. Sorry I don't really have any more specifics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/SchismGrl18/100_0871.jpg

..calligaster to me.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

it has the nice sleek look of a black racer from a distance.
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PHWyvern

Looks to me like the snake shows a faint stripe on the side. I suspect it is a black ratsnake.

~~Greg~~

That's the first snake that popped into my head when I saw the pic. Black Rat Snake (Pantherophis).

I don't know that it is a ratsnake. It looks too pale and too striped for a Ratsnake from Arkansas and the head shape/size is wrong. They are generally darker and more blotched from what I have seen of Arkansas ratsnakes.

To me the body looks more like a striped Prairie Kingsnake. Although they are normally blotched, as old adults, many prairie kings in that part of the country become uniform brown with darker striping.

Look at the prairie king in this photo - www.snakesofarkansas.com/galleries/snake/colubridae/lampropeltis_calligaster/42306131_calligaster.jpg.html and see if you don't think that is the correct ID.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

>>I don't know that it is a ratsnake. It looks too pale and too striped for a Ratsnake from Arkansas and the head shape/size is wrong. They are generally darker and more blotched from what I have seen of Arkansas ratsnakes.
>>
>>To me the body looks more like a striped Prairie Kingsnake. Although they are normally blotched, as old adults, many prairie kings in that part of the country become uniform brown with darker striping.
>>
>>Look at the prairie king in this photo - www.snakesofarkansas.com/galleries/snake/colubridae/lampropeltis_calligaster/42306131_calligaster.jpg.html and see if you don't think that is the correct ID.
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>>Chris Harrison
>>San Antonio, Texas

Prairie kingsnake was my first thought as well. The head is far too blunt to be any species of ratsnake. The snake also has a nice sheen to it, suggesting smooth scales.

I'll buy that, gentlemen. I was certain it was not a racer, but did not think about the prairie king. Good call.

~~Greg~~

I'll buy that as well. Seems like a good match.

Yeah, no doubt. Prarrie King.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Thank you very much everyone!