Taxonomists today use genetic information to help classify various reptiles, etc. They still use morphology and internal structures and other things from the past, however, because this is a field that is still evolving, to say the least. As methods get better and more refined the taxonomy gets better, more accurate, hopefully.

Fox snakes do seem like a cross bt. bullsnakes and common ratsnakes, because they basically lie bt. them ecologically and are adapted that way. They are grouped in the Elaphe or Pantherophis genus, because they are closely related to these ratsnakes. Pantherophis came about to help distinguish bt. Old World and New World ratsnakes, Utiger et al, 2002.

As far as not having the "same physical structure", I'm assuming you mean in the way they handle. They are a bit more heavy bodied and possibly move a little differently and may not constrict as much; but they are in every way a ratsnake, morphologically and genetically. ASAMOF, Pituophis is a ratsnake genus too, as they are closely related to Pantherophis, and are in the tribe, Coronellini (Utiger et al, 2005), which includes all North American ratsnakes: Pituophis, Pantherophis, Bogertophis, Lampropeltis, Arizona, Rhinocheilus, etc, and all the Old World, Elaphe (not including the new genera of ratsnakes from Utiger et al, 2002.) Sorry about the taxonomy discussion. Just mentioning this so you know where I'm coming from, and to help answer your questions.

Going back to the ecology of fox snakes just for a moment, Western fox snakes in particular, they spend a lot of time underground, in burrows, and they have some techniques for killing and eating their prey, much like bullsnakes, that has to do with being in confined spaces. They also take baby birds and eggs out of their nest which are mostly not constricted, imho. Just a matter of learned behaviors, but doesn't mean they couldn't constrict if they had a larger prey item, like a squirrel or rabbit or something like that.

Didn't mean to ramble, just interested, and trying to help.

Cheers...TC


>>I am glad these snakes are not that popular. That was a very cool pic indeed. They do remind me much of bullsnakes,ratsnake crosses. I do not know too much about taxonomy. But why are they grouped as Elephe or Pantherophis? They do not really have the same physical structure as many of our ratsnakes, or corn snakes. Even holding them they do not feel as powerful of a constrictor as most other ratsnakes. I wonder if someday they may be considered a monotypic secies? But like I said I know very little of taxonomy or what criteria go into grouping animals into species.
-----
Ratsnake Foundation

[ Show Entire Thread ]