Re: distinguishing eastern from western fox snakes

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Terry Cox on June 08, 2000 at 11:42:44:

In Reply to: distinguishing eastern from western fox snakes posted by john on June 08, 2000 at 06:56:33:

: I am interested in the differences between elaphe gloydi and elaphe vulpina. The sources I went to said western foxes have 33 to 51 saddles (average 41) with saddles seldom more than 5 scales long. Easterns were listed as having 34 saddles with 4-6 scales as the length. One source said the saddles were counted from nape of neck to tail.

: My questions are:

: 1) Is the 34 saddle figure for the easterns a minimum, an average or what? An average.
: 2) When they say to count them from nape of neck to tail does that mean you exclude the saddles on the tail? Yes. Only count the body.
: 3) Are there any other criteria for distinguishing between these two snakes? Yes. Easterns are a little longer, heavier, and more colorful, usually with orangish heads. Also behavior and ecology is somewhat different.
: 4) Where is the best published information on these species? They have been written about a lot. Try Schulz ('96), "A Monograph of the Colubrid Snakes, Elaphe", which is expensive, or "Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region", by Jim Harding (1997).

: Thanks

: John Firneno

Follow Ups:

Re: distinguishing eastern from western fox snakes Thanks Terry john 06/08/00 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : I am interested in the differences between elaphe gloydi and elaphe vulpina. The sources I went to said western foxes have 33 to 51 saddles (average 41) with saddles seldom more than 5 scales long. Easterns were listed as having 34 saddles with 4-6 scales as the length. One source said the saddles were counted from nape of neck to tail. : : My questions are: : : 1) Is the 34 saddle figure for the easterns a minimum, an average or what? An average. : : 2) When they say to count them from nape of neck to tail does that mean you exclude the saddles on the tail? Yes. Only count the body. : : 3) Are there any other criteria for distinguishing between these two snakes? Yes. Easterns are a little longer, heavier, and more colorful, usually with orangish heads. Also behavior and ecology is somewhat different. : : 4) Where is the best published information on these species? They have been written about a lot. Try Schulz ('96), "A Monograph of the Colubrid Snakes, Elaphe", which is expensive, or "Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region", by Jim Harding (1997). : : Thanks : : John Firneno

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Rat Snake Forum ] [ FAQ ]