Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Found another rat in a different location, gpr or texas?

Underside (it was a little uncooperative)

-----
Dustin Smith

Ya know what's weird about boththose, is they sort of display characteristics of both.

Most Texas juveniles have less of a "chevron" pattern on their head, and less number of blotches too. Also, emoryi is more known for a tighter number of blotches and they can many times be at a slight crooked angle as in this one too.

I wonder if it doesn't have some geneflow from each?, this could be a possibility, because most of the time they are much easier for me to accurately identify. Another thing is Texas hatchlings usually have darker blotches too.

The more "H" pattern to the blotches is another trait more indicative of Texas Rats..LOL!

These guys have me sort of wondering if they are not crossed to some extent..hmmm.

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

is also a strong Texas Rat trait..LOL!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

The thing is, I have never found an adult gpr anywhere in my area, that is why I was so excited that maybe I had found some hatchlings of the species. On the other hand, I have found hundreds of Texas rats both adult and young. But when I started looking at them both, they had alot of traits of a gpr so it got me wondering....

Is there any other sure fire ways to tell the difference? Maybe scale count or anything?
-----
Dustin Smith

Yes, there are definite meristic differences in the two's scalation. The Ratsnake books I have are two much of a pain to convey all this to you though, as the idiots are pertaining more to the head scalation.

Texas rats have either 27 or 29 scale rows at mid-body, and you might want to do some "googling" on meristic, or scalation to see what I'm talking about with head scalation. I wish I could find whether or not the Texas does, or does NOT have two latteral stripes under the tail, because I even checked again, and INDEED emoryi definitely DOES have two latteral stripes underneath the tail, just as I suspected.

Mean as all hell certainly sounds like Texas influence as well..LOL!

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

Also I might add, they are both extremely aggressive like a texas rat
-----
Dustin Smith

I believe the great plains rat has the spearpoint between the eyes (like corn snakes). I vote for Texas rat.

They both are Texas rats this is a GPR

-----
Archie Bottoms

Alright, the ayes have it, Im gonna go with texas rat too. Well maybe I'll find a gpr someday, but these texas rats are just so common, I rarely see anything else. Thanks to everyone.
-----
Dustin Smith

TX rat.
With certainty.
-----
Jack Jeansonne

where did you find it? I mean, under trash? in oak woodlands? most Gpr's are found in scrub land habitat, not all, most. Also there should be plenty of Gpr in your area, just need to find the right habitat. I'll tell you this though, most Gpr's have an attitude that can match a T-rat any day! I have been bitten by both, numerous times and the babies are just as susceptible to the "disease"!! LOL!

-----
Todd Hughes

T-rat
-----
Todd Hughes

Doug the more I look at these the more I think you are right, hybred the blotches and a few other markeings say hybred.I have scene natural bairdi x texas from junction,these are most likely hybreds tex x emori
-----
Archie Bottoms

Definitely a baby Texas Rat......
-----
John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...