Re: Nice snake! But why are these called BLACK RATS? They are not black...

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Posted by patricia sherman on January 21, 2002 at 14:41:13:

In Reply to: Nice snake! But why are these called BLACK RATS? They are not black... posted by James on January 21, 2002 at 14:22:16:

Evidently, you've never checked the websites for these snakes. The picture is of a baby Black Rat Snake. As they age, they change colour. By about age eight to twelve months, they're entirely black (dorsum), or almost so.

Some never turn true black, but end up a very dark brown or slightly greenish-black. They always retain traces of the blotches, and these can be discerned in adults on close inspection of the skin. They also retain pale/white between the scales, a feature that isn't noticeable except when the skin is distended.

The chin is white, and the colour gradually changes along the ventrum, until it is a lovely irridescent blue-grey along the belly. The underside of the tail may be black, or may be a darker continuation of the irridescence. Sometimes they have a lateral strip of yellow intervening between the dorsum and ventrum. There are several morphs available, usually captive-bred. These include "Albino" (actually amelanistic), "Licorice" (black spinal stripe on a white body), "White Albino" (almost pure white), "Greenish" (greenish-black intergrade between Black and Yellow Rat Snakes), etc.

Patricia

: Just wondering...

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Alright, cool...thanx!!! np James 01/21/02 (0)

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: Evidently, you've never checked the websites for these snakes. The picture is of a baby Black Rat Snake. As they age, they change colour. By about age eight to twelve months, they're entirely black (dorsum), or almost so. : Some never turn true black, but end up a very dark brown or slightly greenish-black. They always retain traces of the blotches, and these can be discerned in adults on close inspection of the skin. They also retain pale/white between the scales, a feature that isn't noticeable except when the skin is distended. : The chin is white, and the colour gradually changes along the ventrum, until it is a lovely irridescent blue-grey along the belly. The underside of the tail may be black, or may be a darker continuation of the irridescence. Sometimes they have a lateral strip of yellow intervening between the dorsum and ventrum. There are several morphs available, usually captive-bred. These include "Albino" (actually amelanistic), "Licorice" (black spinal stripe on a white body), "White Albino" (almost pure white), "Greenish" (greenish-black intergrade between Black and Yellow Rat Snakes), etc. : Patricia : : Just wondering...

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