Comments ======== From: John White Subject: Re: Snake on boardwalk - Congaree Swamp - Columbia, SC - snake01.jpg Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 17:15:00 -0400 Nice photo! The snake is a Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta). John "S. Thomas Lewis" wrote: -- Best Regards, John White Reptiles & Amphibians of Virginia - http://www.erols.com/reptiles/ Wildlife & Nature Photographs - http://members.xoom.com/crocodilians/ Comments ======== From: "Walter W. Knapp" Subject: Re: Snake on boardwalk - Congaree Swamp - Columbia, SC - snake01.jpg Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 23:44:07 -0400 John White wrote: > > Nice photo! The snake is a Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta > obsoleta). Agree on the photo! But the snake is a Gray Rat Snake (different subspecies) Elaphe obsoleta spiloides at least that's what the ones I've found in Georgia have been identified as. It intergrades to the Black Rat Snake on a north-south line in Georgia. This one looks like some I've seen in the area around the Okeefenoke swamp. Note the small, short kinks along his body, that's a threat posture. Or maybe a I'm scared posture. Characteristic of these snakes and some others. Walt wwknapp@mindspring.com Comments ======== From: John White Subject: Re: Snake on boardwalk - Congaree Swamp - Columbia, SC - snake01.jpg Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 06:30:35 -0400 It looks somewhat like a Gray Rat Snake to me as well, but according to the latest distribution maps (Roger Conant & Joseph T. Collins) Congaree Swamp, Columbia, SC is well outside the Gray Rats Snakes range. -- Best Regards, John White Reptiles & Amphibians of Virginia - http://www.erols.com/reptiles/ Wildlife & Nature Photographs - http://members.xoom.com/crocodilians/ Comments ======== From: "Walter W. Knapp" Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 23:18:13 -0400 In the survey work I'm in, lots of things are found way outside their range. I'm really messing with treefrog distribution in Georgia. So, it's probably more than possible. I'm not doing SC in the survey, it's Georgia only, so I don't know for sure. I have found grays of this color farther north and east in Georgia than the official distribution. In any case, as I said, it looks just like the ones from southern Georgia. It's not a biggie, as they intergrade with Black Rat Snakes, so I'm not sure how artificial the distinction. The blacks around here (Georgia Piedmont) have the same pattern, although they may be so black that you can barely see it. Walt wwknapp@mindspring.com