Reptile & Amphibian Forums

someone got a snake caught in their engine. this is the only shot they sent me. what is it?

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Adrian De Leon
Hissenia Reptiles

Do you know where that person was located? It might help to narrow it down.
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Diego

Hmmm,......that's an extremely difficult call,....as Diego(viborero) also mentioned, it would be nice to know exactly where this was located in the country, that would help narrow it down just a tad. There are a few strong possibilities here from what I can see(which ain't much). I can JUST detect it probably has a blotch type pattern on the back in a few places.

1) The yellowish/tan coloration,, the ventro-lateral blotching, are typical of a Bullsnake(Pituophis ssp.)

2) It could also be a boldly colored Texas Ratsnake(Elaphe o.lindheimeri)

3) I'd like to see some more ventral blotching/checkering on this, but it could very well be a Fox Snake(Elaphe vulpina) too.

The coloration of the sides, and ventro-lateral blotches are basically inicative of all three of these snakes I mentioned.

Too bad the snake wasn't placed right-side up, then it would have been easily identified.

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

don't ratsnakes usually have body shape sort of like a loaf of bread in cross-section (nearly vertical on the sides, rounded on the top)? I feel like this snake is more rounded but it's hard to tell...

Yes, that's right,....like a cross-sectioned loaf of bread, but limp, beat up and dead can change the shape somewhat. It makes it very hard to tell from the photo, just as you mentioned.

I wish whoever took the pic would have flipped it over with the a twig or stick so it could be properly identified, I see some available right in the pic itself.

Whatever the case, we all know for a fact that it's a totally harmless species.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Tough call, but if I had to guess I'd say it's a ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoleta complex). Yellow ones like that are pretty common here in Tennessee and other parts of the midsouth.

I'd say from the color & pattern (limited) Texas ratsnake, P.O. lindheimeri. As mentioned before, though, knowing where in the world the thing originated would be helpful.

~~Greg~~

sorry for the delay. This was found near dallas texas. ill see if i can get anothe pic from the ones that seny me it
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Adrian De Leon
Hissenia Reptiles

Most likely a Texas Rat Snake then.

That's a very typical Texas Rat.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

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Adrian De Leon
Hissenia Reptiles