I have also never like the term "rat snake" used for Spilotes (Tiger Rat Snakes) either because they are nothing similar to USA native rat snakes, or old world rat snakes, but they have certainly been recorded upwards of 12' as well and I would certainly put them up as a contestant for worlds largest rat snakes if you want to consider them "rat snakes."

Personally I always liked a name I heard used for them in Mexico calling them "voladora," which roughly translates to "flyer," in reference to their ability to quickly climb from tree to tree looking like they are flying through the forest. If someone wanted to declare Spilotes and Pseustes just be put into a group of snakes we give the common group name "bird snakes," I would think that is an alright idea. But Pseustes actually remind me more of USA native rat snakes than Spilotes do actually, and Pseustes are often actually the ones called birds snakes.

But if Pseustes look and behave more similar to the US rat snakes like black rats, should we just call black rat snakes...black bird snakes?

I hate common names.

Lets give the biggest rat snake title to Ptyas...unless someone wants to call Eunectes a rat snake : )

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• SIZE MATTERS? - NATZOO, Sat May 21 00:32:32 2011
• RE: SIZE MATTERS? - pinelandsghost, Sun May 22 01:40:27 2011
• RE: SIZE MATTERS? - SoLA, Sun May 22 19:24:26 2011
• RE: SIZE MATTERS? - DMong, Sun May 22 21:02:50 2011