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Adult rat snakes are typically 3-5 ft (91-152 cm), but large
individuals may be more than 6 ft (183 cm) long. The appearance of rat
snakes varies greatly throughout the geographic range. Black rat snakes
are more northern in distribution and are characteristically black on
top with a faint hint of white between some of the scales. Yellow rat
snakes are greenish, yellow, or orange with four dark stripes running
the length of the body. Gray rat snakes are dark to light gray with
darker gray or brown blotches. The juveniles of all subspecies resemble
the gray rat. The belly is whitish in color near the head and
becomes checkered or mottled toward the tail. The body cross section is
loaf-shaped and not round . Rat snakes have weakly keeled scales and the anal plate is divided. |
