Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

I spotted this unfortunate, deceased individual on the side of a road in east-central Illinois. Approximate length was three feet. My first instinct, of course, was to identify it as a garter snake, due to the species' prevalence in the area. This individual, however, has no dorsal stripe. I then thought perhaps it was a member of the Natrix genus, but after consulting a few guides, could not match up this snake's pattern to anything found in the area. Then I thought perhaps it was a fox snake ready to begin molting.

Can anyone be of assistance? Thanks very much!

A_E

Other images:

http://www.areawidetech.com/images/enews/temp/P9130001.jpg
http://www.areawidetech.com/images/enews/temp/P9130002.jpg
http://www.areawidetech.com/images/enews/temp/P9130003.jpg
http://www.areawidetech.com/images/enews/temp/P9130004.jpg
http://www.areawidetech.com/images/enews/temp/P9130005.jpg

that looks to be a fox snake, was this place located by a river

Yes, it was actually on the side of a road that passes between a drainage ditch and an inlet from a fairly large, man-made lake. I spotted it Saturday morning and suspect the damage had been done the night before.

Thanks for your help!

A_E

Damned pity....................

a
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

n/p
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~redmom~
My Email
Herps:
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Others:
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Agreed, that's a shame. It's probably a young adult Fox snake, but I'm looking at the head markings and wondering if it could be a Prairie Kingsnake. Can't tell from the pic if the scales are smooth and the anal plate single (Prairie King) or weakly keeled scales and divided anal plate (Fox). Anyone else think this might be a Prairie King?
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MichaelB

I can't tell you why, but the scales looked keeled to me.

It is a fox snake, the gestalt is all wrong for a prairie king.
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Chris Harrison

...he was beginning to realize he was the creature of a god that appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers - W. Somerset Maugham

The scales were definitely keeled, and from what I know, the specimen was probably too large to be a Prairie King (unless this individual represented the extreme, large end of the size spectrum among Prairie Kingsnakes).

..