Reptile & Amphibian Forums

In the post below, another forum user speculates that my female Black Rat may be a hybrid with the Texas Rat.

I don't see strong evidence of that, but she does retain patterns in mid section, and her eyes are brown.

Anyone have any Black Rats with brown eyes, or does this suggest that she may indeed be a hybrid?
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I've seen them out of Kansas and Arkansas with similar eye color.

Hmm, the investigation & saga continue. This is all starting to make sense (see my other post just below). A specimen from AR or KS does imply southern, and larger size.

Either of my TWO working theories could be correct. I need more feedback & insight from other forum posters to make a more educated guess:

1) Coloration, pattern & size are normal for Black Rats in the Southwestern region of AR & KS.

2) Coloration, pattern & size of Black Rats in the Southwestern region of AR & KS are affected by intergrades with Texas Rat specimens.

Anyone else with particular insight care to comment?
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I think that you're right. Mine is not likely a Texas Ratsnake intergrades, as another forum poster suspected. Brown eyes & side patterns seem to be unique to that region, although many snakes are more solid black, like everywhere else.

Highly variable; I know.

My female's ancestors are likely from the Ozark region of AR, MO and eastern KS. The only confirmed Internet photo I've found of a brown-eyed Black Ratsnake is from northeast AR. A photo from eastern KS shows side patterns of brown much like my female.

Thanks so much for helping to solve the "Where's it from?" mystery. You are SO helpful.

Ameron
Portland/Vancouver

0.1 Black Ratsnake

From the photo, you have a Black Rat Snake. It shows very little pattern from your photo. It looks nothing like a Texas Rat Snake. Relax and enjoy your animal.

"In the post below, another forum user speculates that my female Black Rat may be a hybrid with the Texas Rat."

That would be me. I presented my suggestion as a possibility. Nothing more, nothing less. It was YOU who suggested the possibility of a southern origin, a scenario which by definition implies a certain degree of genetic introgression, regardless.

BTW, what happened to that thread anyway?