Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Thank you for all of your replies to my previous message to help us identify a snake we found earlier today! But we just found another snake in the pool! Here is a picture...

Here he is sticking his tongue out at us!! We thought he might be another water snake too.. but he flips out when he is in water!???

It is hard to get a size reference from your photo, but the snake looks like one of three things....

1. It's general morph and color looks like a Southern Ring-necked Snake, except that a Ring-necked Snake from your area of the country should have an orange collar just behind the head and a bright yellow/orange belly.

2. It could be a Southern Black Racer, which are very common where you are, but it looks a little bit too gray in the picture. A racer would be more black, or if it was young, would have evidence of a spotted pattern.

3. It could be an Eastern Smooth Earthsnake, but again it looks more gray than brown and earthsnakes are typically brown. The head isn't pointed enough for an earthsnake, either.

If I had to commit, I would guess it is a misleading photograph of a Southern Black Racer.
-----
Chris Harrison

Maybe a mole king snake (Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata). See link

Mike
Mole King snake

`If I had to commit, I would guess it is a misleading photograph of a Southern Black Racer.'

That would've been my guess, too. The head shape, in particular, doesn't look like it'd fit well with ringnecks, earth snakes, or mole kings...

Patrick Alexander

That is what my first impression was. The profile just looked very "racer-like" head on. Andy
-----
Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

a
-----
Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

At first glance I saw a smooth earth snake, but after taking a closer look at the head I'm not too sure. The snout to me is rather pointed, as opposed to the relatively blunt snout of the smaller colubrid species (in comparision this pic, anyways), and the large round eyes with what look to be round pupils have me guessing at a racer or a really off-color coachwhip.

Yes I agree as far as this one being difficult to identify! He is a grayish/brownish color on top and a tan color underneath. He has a couple of very faint orange spots on his side.. He is only about 10 to 12 inches long but we got really close up in that picture to try to get a good head shot. He has a really small head compared to the rest of his body. Here is another picture of him, maybe that will help. I really appreciate everyone trying to help us identify him.. It's wierd finding 2 baby snakes 2 hours apart in the pool yesterday.. He does look alot like the mole king snake in one of the pictures posted on that link, but he hardly has any markings.. he is more solid colored than anything.. almost looks like a big earth worm from a distance till you look really close..

but it may be a worm snake as well (Carphophis sp). If it's 10-12" in length, a racer wouldn't be a solid color. My vote is an earth snake. Here is a rough earth snake (your should be the not-so-different smooth earth snake):

My Online Snake Lifelist

n/p

Chris thought the snake looked greyish, but in my monitor it is distinctly brown/tan.

that picture and description confirms that it is a Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae).
-----
Chris Harrison

He does look alot like the earth snakes especially in those pics.. thanks for your help everyone!

.