Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found this snake this morning on my front porch. I am located in Coatesville PA which is about an hour west of Philly. These pictures were taken with a webcam so I know they aren't the greatest. I think it's either a black rat snake or a northern black racer. I have never seen either type of snake in this area,atleast around my house anyway! My guess is a black rat snake,but I am fairly new at herps so I would like some of you guys/gals opinions.

http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/bc/67a7b8ff/bc/Snake/snake2.jpg?bfwA8pABSxvWqQph

another pic

yet another..sorry i couldn't get all the pics in one message.

One more pic,I'll post some better ones if these dont help.

n/p

My guess is he is about 18 inches long..

looks like a racer to me
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14 Leopard Geckos 5.9.0
2 Tokay Geckos 2.0.0
1 Graybanded Kingsnake 1.0.0 (on vacation in my house)
1 Baird's Rat Snake (Thanks Vadoni!) 1.0.0
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko egg cookin...she looks good!

I'm not sure, but the head shape is suggestive of a young Eastern Hognose. I'd say either that or a young Northern Black Racer. Need a pic that shows the dorsal pattern better before we can be sure.
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MichaelB

A good ventral shot is needed to be completely definate that it is either a racer or hognose. However here is how I ruled out hognose.

1. It is not feigning death (even though there are some hogs that won't).

2. I do not see that nasal appendage (that hook like nose).

3. Ouside of Philly I'm sure Black Racers are more common than any other snake there except maybe a black rat. At least that is the way it was in MD when I lived there.

4. It looks like a racer to me.

Much love man.
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14 Leopard Geckos 5.9.0
1 Leopard Gecko egg cookin...took mold off (dimpling now)
2 Tokay Geckos 2.0.0
1 Graybanded Kingsnake 1.0.0 (on vacation in my house)
1 Baird's Rat Snake (Thanks Vadoni!) 1.0.0
1 Gray Ratsnake 0.0.1
2 Dekay's Snake 0.0.2
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum
1.1 Green Tree Frogs (H. cinerea)
0.0.1 Gray Tree Frog (H versicolor)
1.0 Bird-Voiced Tree Frog

looks like a racer to me
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roomates:
1.0.0 anery corn
1.0.0 normal corn
1.1.0 rough greens
0.0.2 dekay's
0.0.1 red milk
2.0.0 false map turtles
0.0.2 common musk turtles

That is a northern black racer, not a hognose! You can tell by the head shape and the large eyes.
Brian

>>I found this snake this morning on my front porch. I am located in Coatesville PA which is about an hour west of Philly. These pictures were taken with a webcam so I know they aren't the greatest. I think it's either a black rat snake or a northern black racer. I have never seen either type of snake in this area,atleast around my house anyway! My guess is a black rat snake,but I am fairly new at herps so I would like some of you guys/gals opinions.
>>
>>http://us.f1f.yahoofs.com/bc/67a7b8ff/bc/Snake/snake2.jpg?bfwA8pABSxvWqQph
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1.0 Corn snake (KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake (KY locale)
1.2 Black rat snakes (MO locale)
1.0 Eastern Yellow Belly racer (MO locale)
1.0 Eastern Milk snake (KY locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Yellow rat snake (Dwight Good stock)
1.1 California king snake (Coastal phase)
1.0 Prairie king snake (KY locale)
0.1 Black king snake (KY locale)

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian