by Chris Montross of Darkhorse Herpetoculture – Photos by author and Lance Jarzynka
In the extreme southeastern United States there lives a snake of beauty beyond compare, the Yellow Ratsnake.
Originally described by Holbrook in 1836 as Coluber quadrivittata, it was said to be yellow with brown stripes and distinct from Coluber alleghaniensis, the black form. It’s range was noted as being the coastal plain from North Carolina to Florida. Shortly after the turn of the century into the 1900’s, Elaphe was assigned as the genus where it stayed for many years. In 1932, Brady described the first of two subspecies of E.quadrivittata. The Keys or Deckert’s Ratsnake was assigned to a ratsnake sent to the National Zoological Park by R.F. Deckert from Lower Matecumbe Key, Monroe Co Florida. He examined a total of 7 specimens from the upper keys of Florida for his description of this form. A second subspecies was described in 1942 by Barbour and Engels from Sam Windsor’s Lump, Shackleford Banks, Carteret Co North Carolina. This form was assigned E.q.parallela, The Outer Banks Ratsnake. Later as quadrivittata was relegated to subspecies status under Elaphe obsoleta, Neill described E.o.rossalleni – The Everglades Ratsnake in 1949. Which now falls under the umbrella of Yellow Ratsnake since Dowling,Duellman and Schwartz invalidated rossalleni and deckerti, thus lumping them under E.o.quadrivittata. Elaphe was later no longer used for New World Ratsnakes and they were assigned the resurrected genus Pantherophis in 2002.
More recently in 2000, Burbrink lumped the form into Pantherophis alleghaniensis along with all other ratsnakes regardless of phenotype development east of the Apalachicola River and Appalachian Mountains. This didn’t become widely used(and hardly acknowledged) until the 2016 edition of the Peterson’s Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America was published. This is when the world began to meltdown over the recent(not so recent) reclassification of everyone’s beloved North American Ratsnake. More recently in 2021, Hillis contested those findings and recommended Pantherophis quadrivittatus for the striped coastal plains ratsnake and P. alleghaniensis for the blotch patterned ratsnakes east of the Mississippi River. He even suggested at the conclusion of the paper they could be used as subspecies under Pantherophis obsoletus. Thus the saga continues. But I personally like Hillis’ assessment over the previous assessment done by Burbrink, if we weren’t just to keep the forms all as subspecies.
The distinguishing characteristic of these snakes is the development of four longitudinal stripes as they grow and a base tone in the yellow/orange range. Some develop much more prominent black or brown striping over others depending on the part of the range their found in and specific habitat, Darker/bolder striping in more densely forested areas and fainter/less distinct in more open sunny habitats. Many found in the southern parts of Florida develop faintly contrasting striping when compared to the background coloration. They are found in a variety of habitats across their range from hardwood hammocks, coastal mangroves, open prairies, saw grass marshes, swamps and in pockets of xeric or upland habitats where clusters of hardwood trees are found.
Another ratsnake closely associated with Yellow Ratsnakes but usually staying in their own lane of classification is the Gulf Hammock Ratsnake. They develop striping with age but retain their blotching from birth. Background color tends to be in the grey, tan or white range but some can have a tint of yellow. Interesting cryptic pattern is often seen with these especially on the head. Some are born with both blotches and striping. This unique ratsnake is found in the low hydrilic forests of Levy Co Florida principally between the Suwannee and Witchlacoochie Rivers and west of the sandhills to the east. The form is habitat restricted to these dark, wet forests and once one travels to higher, drier areas you will encounter a more typical Yellow Ratsnake form. It was described in 1940 by Ernst and Barbour as E.o.williamsi. A study is currently underway to revalidate this turfed form and give it the recognition it deserves.
In herpetoculture circles, most of us like to utilize the former subspecies to help identify the various forms of ratsnakes. Many hobbyists( or lifestyle obsessed keeping nerds) have taken to developing locality specific captive populations to represent the regional forms of the Yellow Ratsnake. Since they still remain relatively common across the range, it is possible to still collect specimens from a focused area and add new genetics to the captive gene pool over the years. But as we continue to develop more for our growing human population, many areas are losing much of the needed undisturbed habitat and putting complicated new pressures on them to learn to adapt to. Many areas that have been heavily developed for many decades have very minimal wild populations of ratsnakes left. They just aren’t wary enough to elude moving cars or avoid human encounters like the more adaptable Black Racer.
Husbandry parameters for these snakes have been well established over the past several decades. Whether you prefer rack systems or elaborate naturalistic enclosures, they seem to adapt well as long as good ventilation and clean,dry conditions are maintained. As ratsnakes have relatively high metabolisms compared to say commonly kept pythons and boas, maintaining sanitary conditions can be a consideration when choosing a housing method. Naturalistic enclosures can be noticeably more challenging to keep free of waste material than a more simple set up with various hides and cleanable or replaceable surfaces.
As neonates, Yellows can be very defensive. Attempting to ward off would be predators (us) with sassy striking and huffing or by simply fleeing in a flash to save themselves. Captive bred and born specimens exhibit these traits as readily as wild specimens. Though most will calm down with time and become quite tractable. Getting to experience the amazing ontogenetic change they develop through is a real treat. Babies hatch in grey, tan and near black tones but quickly begin to transform as they grow. No other forms exhibit this more so than the orange types formally considered Everglades Ratsnakes (E.o.rossalleni). Their two toned tan bodies seem to develop pink and orange tones almost overnight. Often they are very orange toned long before their dorsal blotches fade.
The Everglades Ratsnake form can have little to no distinguishing striping as adults. But most have some from bold black to faint tanny/brown. Yellow colored snakes with brown stripes can be found in the same areas frequently as very orange/red specimens. Suggesting that former rossalleni subspecies is more of an erythristic form of the Yellow Ratsnake. But some believe that as the hydrology of south Florida was altered with canals for agriculture, that the more yellow type ratsnakes adapted better to the change in ecological niche down there where the rossalleni was more suited for the open, wet sawgrass habitat that was eliminated by and large with this human alteration of the region.
These snakes have been observed to lay over 40 eggs, although 10-20 is more common. Young hatch between 55-90 days depending on temperatures. In the wild young in late summer to early fall as the extreme summer temperatures are beginning to subside. But also in sync with baby tree frogs emerging, as well as when other small prey items such as baby lizards are present in decent numbers. In the northern extents of the range, young seem to start readily on frozen thawed pink mice left for them, while more southerly range specimens can be a bit more challenging to establish as reliable feeders. Defensive and flighty temperments are more common the farther south they are found. Holding babies in one hand and tease feeding a day old pink mouse is a method I have found to be extremely helpful in getting neonates to take meals. Some requiring to be held until the food item is completely swallowed. Many switch to dropped(left) prey over time or at least just teasing in their enclosure. Patience can be a huge virtue with them. This holding method helps keep them in place and focused on the food item, rather than bolting far from the keeper. After a few successful offerings, they can usually be slowly and gently set back in their enclosure to finish their meal. Providing neonates with multiple types of confining hides can help them feel secure and establish better.
With adults reaching lengths in excess of six feet, spacious enclosures are necessary. My adults are housed in 200 qt Sterilite bins fit into an open layout racks I’ve built for them. Scores of ventilation holes are created on all sides. One to three adults are maintained in these depending on the time of year and compatibility. I cohabitate most of my snakes, so frequently a pair or two males or females are utilizing one enclosure. Juveniles and subadults are housed often in pairs or occasionally singly in 7qt to 66 qt locking bins. A substrate of pine shavings allows for burrowing if desired and spot cleaning. Multiple different types of hides are provided. Coffee tubs, paper towel rolls, 15 qt Rough Totes and other plastic hides are used to offer varied security in their enclosures. Neonates are housed individually of late in 96oz bins by McCormick/Betty Crocker that I buy at Dollar Tree. These are well ventilated on the sides to ensure good air flow and avoid trapping odors and excess humidity. Many babies are very fond of flat hides. A plastic cottage cheese or sour cream lid left on the surface of the shaving provides a tight confining retreat for them. Water bowls large enough for the housed snake is provided in each enclosure, from 8oz deli cups to half gallon coffee bins. I never offer hides or nest boxes that are see through or opaque. That offers them no visual security. My large adult bins have 15 qt Rough Totes with a doorknob hole cut into one corner of the lid. Several inches of damp peat moss is added to allow for both a humid hide and nest box. By having the hole in one corner, it allows an occupant to get away from the opening and feel secure from the lighted outside world.
An interesting note/ observation I have made is that the Yellow Ratsnake has a very similar natural range to the Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto) with the exception of the northwest part of the palm’s range and northern most part of the ratsnake’s range. If you see one in a Cabbage Palm hammock, it will be obvious that the two species evolved together. The tones and pattern of a Yellow Ratsnake are nearly identical to that of the old frond bases extending up the trunk of every palm. Not likely a coincidence.
If you care to read more about these fascinating colubrids and their journey through recorded herpetology, I used these sources from my collection as references and inspiration.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature of the Pantherophis obsoletus complex, 2021, Hillis and Wolfgang A Guide to the Snakes of South Florida, 1962, Truitt
Snakes of Florida, 1973, Godwin
The Life History of the Everglades Ratsnake, Elaphe obsolete rossalleni, 1950, Allen and Neill Two Interesting Snakes, 1942, Barbour and Engels
A New Snake from Florida, 1932, Brady
A Taxonomic Study of the Ratsnakes, Genus Elaphe Fitzinger, 1952, Dowling
Mitochondrial DNA Phylogeography of the Polytypic North American Rat Snake(Elaphe obsolete): A Critique of the Subspecies Concept, 2000, Burbrink,Lawson and Slowinski
Amphibians and Reptiles of Florida, 2019, Krysko,Enge and Moler
