Alright, cool...thanx!!! np

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

Posted by James on January 21, 2002 at 16:51:44:

In Reply to: Re: Nice snake! But why are these called BLACK RATS? They are not black... posted by patricia sherman on January 21, 2002 at 14:41:13:

: 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...

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : 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...

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

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