Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Here's a new addition I picked up. A male gray rat (white oak phase) He's around 3 feet in size. Not sure of his age, but I'd venture to guess an 06. Two types of ratsnakes that I believe are unmatched for natural beauty. Bairds rats, and a nice light white oak gray rat. Thanks for looking. Steve

Nice snake, and I agree that true Grey Rats are underappreciated. The silvery grey "White Oak Runner" form is the only one I consider true Grey Rats. Everything else is either intergrades or, God forbid, unnamed subspecies.

Since melanin is the pigment of both black and brown, Gray Rats that are not "White Oak" phase Gray Rats, are not "pure" Grays is an absurd argument. Grays like most other North American Rat Snakes come in many shades of coloring. While I love the look of the White Oak phase, I wouldn't call them the only "pure" Gray Rat Snake.

Great photos Steve. Thanks for posting them. I too am a fan of these animals.

Rick

I agree with Rick. White Oak phase is but one variation of the Gray Rat. Pure Gray rats can come in various looks & shades, not even counting intergrades. But hands down, a light white oak phase is my favorite. Steve

Hmmmm...wasn't making an argument for the entire obsoleta classification to be changed to suit me. Just stated a personal opinion. Nice greys are in the deep South, nice blacks north, everything betwix intergrades. JMO

Gulf Hammock pic? I think I've seen it before. If your last name starts with D we may know each other.

Absurd you say?

Burbrink, Frank T., Robin Lawson & Joseph B. Slowinski. Mitochondrial DNA Phylogeography of the polytypic North American rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta): A critique of the subspecies concept . Evolution. 54(6): pp. 2107-2118.
LINK

Yep, don't see those enough...very under appreciated. I want one in my collection but no more room at the moment. Thanks for posting.

I agree. You don't see alot of white oak gray rats out there. Or atleast ones that I like the looks of. Thanks.
Steve

Very, very NICE. I love the pale Grey rats, beautiful & much under-rated snakes..

Matthew

>>Here's a new addition I picked up. A male gray rat (white oak phase) He's around 3 feet in size. Not sure of his age, but I'd venture to guess an 06. Two types of ratsnakes that I believe are unmatched for natural beauty. Bairds rats, and a nice light white oak gray rat. Thanks for looking. Steve
>>
>>
>>

wow!
I really like that little guy!
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

Great animal, Steve.
I think you're right in that Panhandle Grays, in general, have some real subtle beauty.
Good luck with that one.
-----
Regards, Bill McGighan

Great looking snake! Does yours have any red showing between the scales? Mine seems to look very much like yours but has a hint of red here and there.
-----
3.2 Corn (Butter-Sunflower '07/Anery Stripe-Ripple '06/Amber-Jack Straw '06/Snow-Casey Jones '06/Amel Motley-Cosmo '03)
0.1 Baird's Ratsnake (Sugaree '04)
1.0 White Oaks Grey Rat (Tennesse Jed '04)
0.1 IJ Carpet Python (Cassidy '04)
1.0 Western Hognose (Samson '05)
1.1 Shepherd mix (Dylan 9yrs, Porter 4yrs)

Sorry Jt for the late reply. From what I can tell I don't see much, if any red between the scales. I have seen some others that have a bit of red, but looks like mine does not.
Steve