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telling the difference ..

YOUDIER672 Dec 06, 2010 01:22 PM

I have been looking for info on how to tell the difference between corn, king, milk and rat snakes but everything looks the same to me .. Is there any specific things you look for to tell them apart ?..

thx

Replies (8)

DMong Dec 06, 2010 03:23 PM

"Is there any specific things you look for to tell them apart?"

Yes, some good inexpensive snake books!

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

YOUDIER672 Dec 06, 2010 10:03 PM

next time you trip up the the steps or smash your funny bone i will be smiling .. cause that was a dildo answer

DMong Dec 06, 2010 10:58 PM

No, that was a great answer to a dildo question!

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

cochran Dec 19, 2010 04:06 PM

Lol! I have to agree!
Jeff

Sonya Dec 06, 2010 09:26 PM

>>I have been looking for info on how to tell the difference between corn, king, milk and rat snakes but everything looks the same to me .. Is there any specific things you look for to tell them apart ?..
>>
>>thx

get some good guides.
Basic tidbits....Milks and Kings have single anal plate. Corns and rats have divided, they also tend to have more than 25 rows of scales.

Keying out snakes local to me is easy...upstate NY doesn't have all that much in anything but a milk and a rat. Garters, waters...nothing really keen and colorful.
-----
Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

YOUDIER672 Dec 06, 2010 10:01 PM

thx

KevinM Dec 13, 2010 09:58 AM

Yeah, unless you have experience looking at several diffent species, using color and patterns can be confusing. Unfortunately, the only way to be sure is to use key scalation features like Sonya suggested. However, some folks have no desire to capture and study the scales on snakes even if they appreciate the animals for what they are LOL!! Some other general keys to use is the fact ratsnakes are shaped like a loaf of bread cross sectionally, while kings and milks are more cylindrical. The ratsnakes need the flat bellies to help them climb, while the kings and milks are more round to help them live underground. Ratsnakes generally have heads more distinct from their necks than kings and milks as well. Please note, these are generalities and not hard and true all the time.

cochran Dec 20, 2010 04:21 AM

Very good advice Kevin! Jeff

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