“Rat snake” is the name applied to several snake species that exist throughout the world. True to their name, they feed mostly on rats, though birds and amphibians also regularly appear in their diet. Rat snakes have very distinctive features that make it easy to identify them.
To tell a rat snake, look at the scale patterns, length, color, and body structure. Rat snakes are often described as having “weakly-keeled” scales. Most are between three to five feet long, though some may be longer. The color of a rat snake tends to vary with age and species.
Beyond these characteristics, there’s much more to learn when identifying a rat snake. And in this article, I will guide you on how to identify a rat snake positively.
How To Positively Identify a Rat Snake
To make it easier for you to identify a rat snake, here are a few discerning characteristics to bear in mind:
Scales
One common way to tell rat snakes apart is by their scales. If the scales are weakly-keeled, there’s a high chance that the snake in question is a rat snake. Rat snakes also have ridges that run down the center of their back. These ridges make their skin much rougher than other snakes.
Color
Rat snakes come in different colors, and this variety is based on their species. They are also typically named after their respective colors.
For instance, the black rat snake is so-called because it has a shiny black color. You can also see other colors like red, yellow, and even black and white. Some species have plain colors, while others have beautiful patterns running down their body.
Length
The average length of rat snakes is between three to five feet. However, some can grow longer.
For example, the Asian rat snake is one of the longest rat snakes in the world, with one specimen growing up to twelve feet in length. The Indian rat snake, on the other hand, grows up to eight feet.
Body Structure
Unlike bigger constrictors like anacondas, rat snakes are much more slender. Some species also have a distinctive body shape compared to other snakes – for example, Eastern rat snakes have a proportionately bigger head relative to the rest of their body.
Feeding Habits
Rat snakes are constrictors, meaning they kill by tightly coiling their body around their prey until it asphyxiates. Subsequently, the snake swallows it whole (unlike many animals, snakes cannot chew food into tiny pieces).
You can also find rat snakes in various habitats where they find food. For instance, adult rat snakes climb trees to hunt for birds and their eggs. Juvenile rat snakes may then stay on the ground or wade through ponds to hunt for frogs.
Behavioral Patterns
Rat snakes generally steer clear of people. However, when they feel they are in danger, they can either secrete a scent to deter predators or rattle their tail vigorously like a rattlesnake. Even though they do not have the rattlesnake’s distinctive tail rattle, the latter somehow works to keep away predators.
In addition, whenever a predator or human touches or picks up a rat snake, the snake will emit a foul-smelling musk and spread the smell with its tail to keep the predator or human away.
While rat snakes are generally nocturnal during the warmer seasons of the year, they also spend some time in trees to hunt for prey and a fraction of their daytime being active. Since snakes generally do not have the ability to heat their bodies as birds and mammals can, they hibernate during the winter.
Reproduction
Rat snakes are egg-laying snakes that mate in springtime, laying up to 25 eggs between June and July. These snakes reach sexual maturity after four years, and it takes two to three months for the eggs of a rat snake to hatch.
You can identify rat snakes by where they lay their eggs. They often lay their eggs under rocks, between mulch and rotting vegetation, or among tree stumps and logs. They may also lay their eggs between piles of garden mulch.
Sadly, rat snakes don’t care for their babies or eggs. This means that their young often become food for other snakes and hawks.
Conclusion
Rat snakes share similarities with rattlesnakes and copperheads, which explains why some people mix them up.
You can tell a rat snake by its weakly-keeled scales that run down its back. Rat snakes may grow to lengths greater than eight feet but are generally between three and five feet long. In addition, the head of a rat snake is often more prominent than the rest of its body.
Rat snakes have slender bodies and often come in different colors. You can also tell a rat snake by its behavioral patterns, feeding habits, and reproduction.