Black Rat Snake

Facts about Black Rat Snakes. "Scientific name for Black Rat Snake is Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta". Black Rat Snake is a Pantherophis type of nontoxic snake that belongs to the Colubridae family. The Black Rat Snakes are native to the United State, and they are called by other names as the Rat snake, Texas Rat snake, Pilot Black Snake, or Black Snake. These snakes are largely found in different parts of central North America. The Black Rat Snake also are found in the southern parts of New England and the eastern parts of Nebraska and Texas and in the northern parts of Wisconsin.

Features of Black Rat Snake

The Black Rat Snake is an average-sized snake, with a body length, ranging from 42 inches to 72 inches (106 to 182cm), with a diameter of 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) at the widest point of its body. The Black Rat Snake is enclosed with keeled scales, and has an influential slim body with a head in the shape of a wedge. The anal plate of this variety of snake is divided.

As the name suggests, the Black Rat Snake has a completely black-colored body, except the color of its chin is white. Hatch-lings of the Black Rat Snake have a pale grey color body, with the background of black color marks along the back part of their body. As they mature, the color turns into darker until they attain their adult stage. Hatch-lings are regularly mistaken for copperheads, as their skin patterns are alike.

The Black Rat Snake is inclined to be shy and, preferably, will keep away from being confronted. If these snakes are observed and confronted by hazard, they are inclined to freeze and stay motionless. Some adult Black Rat Snakes try to protect themselves. They loop their body and shake their tails in dead leaves to imitate a rattle. If the Black Rat Snake continues to be aggravated, it will strike.

Diet of Black Rat Snake

The Black Rat Snake is chiefly recognized as a rodent eater, but other food choices also exist. As juveniles, the Black Rat Snake feeds on baby mice, small lizards, and occasionally it feeds on small frogs. Adult Black Rat Snakes used to feed mainly on rats and mice, but they also feed on moles, chipmunks, and other little rodents. The Black Rat Snake also feed on young birds and bird eggs. In the captive, they are fed with chicks, mice, and rats.

Reproduction of Black Rat Snake

In Black Rat Snake, the breeding season commences between March and May. The Black Rat Snakes start to come out from their winter hibernation. After some weeks, the males start looking for female Black Rat Snakes to mate, usually during the last part of April, May, and the first part of June. Male Black Rat Snakes are inclined to wait for the female snakes to cross their territory, and, by making use of pheromones, males communicate and start the mating process with the female snake. The male Black Rat Snake approaches the female snake, lines up with it, and will try to enfold his tail around the tail of the female Black Rat Snake through their vents nearly touching. Mating will last only some minutes or span some hours. The female snake will lay 12 to 20 eggs in a hidden area, under the leaves or hollow logs, or in deserted burrows. The eggs hatch after 65 to 70 days. If conditions are fine, sometimes female Black Rat Snakes create two clutches of eggs in a year.

The average lifespan of the Black Rat Snake ranges from 10 to 30 years.