Rat snakes are a large, polyphyletic, group of snakes from the Colubrid subfamilyColubrinae. Many species tend to be very skittish and sometimes aggressive but the genus is nonvenomous and bites are usually superficial. A variety of species like Elaphe guttata guttata (corn snake or Red Rat snake) are known for the ease with which they are tamed and are common in the pet trade. There is considerable variation between different types of rat snake but most are medium to large, rodent eating snakes.
Previously most were assigned to the genus Elaphe but many have been since renamed. Rat snakes have traditionally been divided into two groups, New World and Old World species.
I guess our problem is we like all snakes. They all have different attributes that make them special. Take the Rat Snake for example. They can be feistier than a corn snake and tend to be heavier bodied and max out at about 6 feet. We currently work with Black Rat Snakes and Texas Rat Snakes. The only reason we don't have more types is because we just don't have the room maybe next year.
The Everglades rat snake may have the most striking appearance of all of the North American rat snakes. Indeed, the most outstanding examples are certainly some of the most beautiful snakes in the world. Sunshine Serpents has taken a special interest in this snake since its founding and it has become kind of our "flagship" breeding project. Most captive hobbyists associate the label Everglades rat snake with a bright orange snake with faintly visible stripes and a red tongue. In reality, many captive Everglades rat snakes fall short of this description. However, our adults generally typify the popular image of what an Everglades rat snake should be.
Some of our stock originates from Bill and Kathy Love's old colony, which descended from another breeder named Marcia Lincoln. Lincoln reportedly acquired a particularly beautiful wild caught specimen in the late 1970's or early 1980's and selectively bred the offspring for orange coloration. We also handpicked a stand out baby from a clutch of offspring being sold by the now defunct reptile wholesaler Burgundy Reptiles. This baby showed exceptional pink coloration and we anticipated that it would grow into a beautiful adult, which it did.
Over the years, extensive field experience in South Florida has allowed us to observe many hundreds, possibly even thousands, of rat snakes in the wild. We have retained a few stand out examples for our colony. Our adults tend to have bright orange background coloration with barely discernable stripes. The chins and throats are usually some shade of yellow or white. Many of our hatchlings show a pinkish hue, which intensifies into orange with age. The "true" Everglades rat has become somewhat of a myth among herpetoculturists. At Sunshine Serpents, we are working to make that myth a reality.
The Everglades rat snake has been the subject of controversy among herpetologists since its description. Its weak differentiation from the yellow rat snake E. o. quadrivittata drew criticism from many herpetologists, who did not consider it distinctive enough to warrant subspecies status. To confuse the situation even more, some have suggested that the conversion of the Everglades marshlands to sugar cane fields allowed neighboring yellow rat snakes to invade the area, genetically swamping the Everglades rat snake. The apparent rarity of rat snakes fitting the popular perception of rossalleni has given it somewhat mythical status among herp enthusiasts. Does the Everglades rat snake truly exist or did it ever?
The subspecies Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni was described by Wilfred T. Neill in 1949. He named it after his friend, the famous Florida reptile dealer and showman, Ross Allen. Allen founded the Reptile Institute at Silver Springs, FL. Through his collecting exploits, Allen was apparently aware of a distinctive form of rat snake from South Florida. As with several other notable Florida rarities such as the blotched king snake and the South Florida rainbow snake, he probably made Neill aware of its presence. Allen listed "Everglades rat snakes" in his catalog long before the subspecies was officially described by Neill.
0 comments:
Post a Comment