Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sometimes we take for granted the snakes that live around us but in my opinion the black ratsnake, which is right in our own backyard, is one of the most amazing. Just take a look at this picture! Does anyone know of a more amazing climber than the black ratsnake?

Ratsnakes are impressive, but when I see how fast a 15 foot retic or Amethystine Python can climb up a tree, I am pretty amazed.
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Chris Harrison

easy, vine snakes, there are the Mexican/south american variety (oxybelis sp.) and also the Asian variety (Ahaetulla sp.) These snakes are so well adapted for climbing its rare for them to ever touch the ground. You can hold one by the tip of the tail and they can lift their entir body up. They are also adapted for speed through brush, they will hold their tongue out and use it as a sight to navigate the small branches at speed. Though the Asian and American variety are not related, the share similar adaptations and are almost identical, text book convergent evolution.

Well, its a given that a completely arboreal snake would be the best up in the trees. I was referring to snakes that spend alot of time on the ground but then decide to climb up the trees. Ive seen reticulated pythons climb up trees with no limbs by using their coils but I have yet to see another snake that can climb up the 90 degree incline of rough barked tree or a brick wall. Just my opinion. You have to admit that that ability of a common black rat snake is pretty amazing.

Yes, excluding aborial species, but thats like saying what's the fastest dog, exluding grey hounds. Black rat snakes are good climbers for the amature class, but the vine snakes are the pros. Any adaptations or techniques the black rat snake has for climbing have been perfected by the vine snake. The very reason that the asian vine snake and the Mexican Vine snake are so similar is both have for generations sought the perfect genes for climbing and both have come to the same conclusion. The vine snake is what black rat will be in another ten million years or so provide we let them survive that long.

Yeah the black rat has to be the best. Vine snakes have to have limbs to climb and the rat can just go straight up a tree.
zach

Snakes amaze me period. Your picture is a great example of the amazing abilities of these magnificent animals. Imagine cutting off your arms and legs, and then try to climb a tree like that Rat is doing. Simply amazing. What great improvisors they are.