I have been after Great Plains Rat Snakes (Elaphe guttata emoryi) all year. Last year they where everywhere, this year all I find are DOR.
Then last night I find this hatchling on the road. It has a deformity of some type, apparently on the spine, about 1/3 the way down its back. But it’s lively and active. I bring it home, set it up in some tupperware and offer it a pinky, which it ate.
This evening, after work, I spend about a hour looking at it, taking some pictures and reading up on it in the newest edition of Alan Tenant’s “field guide to Texas snakes”.
The color and the markings don’t seem right to me but I am not sure about morphs. Its rather calm when handled (which is unlike any adult great plains rat I’ve ever handled) It takes a lot to make it nip and then it only does it once. But the one thing that set me off is this baby snake appears to have an undivided anal plate.
So I am wondering if this is a Praire Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster).
Now the twist.
I caught this snake on a county road about 12 miles from my house, right next to the huge field next to a very quiet little airport.
When I headed inside with my camera tonight what was under my back screen door?
Another one.
This one has no deformitys at all but the markings on the head are much less prominent. The diamond on the crown is NOT complete. the mask doe snot extend across th eyes. Undivided anal plate, etc.
Both are hatchlings less than 10g and approximately 8-9 inches long.
I didn’t have time to take many pictures of the second one. I used the flash some of the time which shows great detail but washes out the dark color.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Michael
