Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I live in souteast PA. I found a great snake which i'm sure is a "Black King." A friend of mine said there's a chance it's a "Black Rat." I have some pics of him that I would like to post but I'm not sure how. I don't see an attachment key on this page. I'd like to post some pics so you who know more can help me ID this guy. Please reply and let me know how to attach pics.
Thanks, Dave.

Well, Black Kingsnakes don't range into southeastern Pennsylvania, but here are some ID keys anyway:

Kingsnakes have smooth scales, Black Ratsnakes have weakly keeled scales.

The Black Ratsnake's body will be shaped like a loaf of bread in cross-section. The Kingsnakes will be round. I'm not suggesting that you cross-section your snake, just visualize it...

The Black Kingsnake will have a single anal plate, the Black Rat Sanke has a divided anal plate.

The Black Kingsnake will have a faint CHAINLIKE pattern of small white or yellow dots dorsally the length of his body.

My field guide shows black kings just barely entering into SE PA in the very northern tip of their range. I think it's more likely that it's a black ratsnake. You may be able to ID it yourself based on the tips Oldherper gave. If you want to email me the pic I can ID it for you or I can post it if you'd like
( gila7150@earthlink.net ). For you to post it on the forum the picture has to be hosted somewhere. (You can upload it to Kingsnake's photo gallery and use that URL).
Chris

I believe it's the Eastern King and not the Black king that barely reaches into SE Pa. Here's a site that can help narrow it down for ya .
PA Herp Atlas

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Ace