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Posted by Terry Cox on January 13, 2003 at 19:23:26:
In Reply to: Thanks for the pics and comments , , ,> posted by terryp on January 13, 2003 at 17:55:03:
I think they are all called black ratsnakes, but some of them are lighter and retain more pattern, and may be influenced by another ssps., such as the gray rat, and others are darker from birth. It's an environmental thing, most of the time, imo. I believe certain pops. are blacker because it's an adaptation which gives an advantage.
I wrote an article for NOAH many years ago in Ohio, "What is a Blacksnake?" The locals call any snake that is black, a blacksnake. You don't know if they were referring to a black rat, a black racer, a melanistic hognose, melanistic garter, or melanistic E. massasauga for that matter.
I've always wondered if a snake like the black ratsnake should be considered a melanistic snake? Then would my Russian ratsnakes be melanistic if they have greatly reduced pattern? Steppes ratsnakes have a melanistic form, some Japanese ratsnakes are melanistic, and Persian ratsnakes can have all black babies along with normal babies in the same clutch.
Interesting. When is it melanistic, and when is it just a "black" snake?
TC
