are coachwhips and racers closely related? basically what im asking is, how dumb should i feel if i mistake one for the other?
Snake Thread 2018
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Last: 5 yr ago by JD Shellnut
They are both colubrids, but so are the vast majority of the non-venomous snakes in the world. Colubridae is a catch-all family and distinctions among which snakes in the family are more closely and more distantly related are hard to come by.
According to wikipedia, more recently the two have been placed in a subfamily together with a much smaller group of genuses, but it still includes a ton of snakes. Including the following; indigo snakes, rat snakes, king snakes, milk snakes, vine snakes, etc...
According to wikipedia, more recently the two have been placed in a subfamily together with a much smaller group of genuses, but it still includes a ton of snakes. Including the following; indigo snakes, rat snakes, king snakes, milk snakes, vine snakes, etc...
CM
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
If you're to the point of debating if it's a racer or Coachwhip, you're ahead of like 98% of people. So don't feel dumb at all.
I was the Chief of the 98% tribe before being educated in this wonderful thread.
I discovered the snake threads a few months ago. Best kept secret on Texags.
I've been waiting to see a snake since I found this thread, and I've had my eyes open since I moved to San Angelo in June. Finally saw my first snake and 1. Didn't have a camera on me 2. I don't think I have photo privileges any way.
It was a Texas Blind snake in my front yard. Those guys are small and sure do look like earthworms at first.
I've been waiting to see a snake since I found this thread, and I've had my eyes open since I moved to San Angelo in June. Finally saw my first snake and 1. Didn't have a camera on me 2. I don't think I have photo privileges any way.
It was a Texas Blind snake in my front yard. Those guys are small and sure do look like earthworms at first.
Instinct took over and I stepped on him. Couldn't sleep last night and walked right over him groggily going to the bathroom. Come back out and my dog is looking at something on the ground, I told him shut up and looked down. It was primal gut instincts to squash it.
YBWS?????
Pattern looks like a juvenile rat snake. At least it does before I've had my coffee anyways
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
Looks like a rat snake
I told my wife I thought rat snake and the only reason why is that all of the water snakes I've encountered are mean. If it was a ybws I would of been bit walking right over him.
Only thing I was certain of was that it wasn't a copperhead or water moccasin.
Vertical lines.
Only thing I was certain of was that it wasn't a copperhead or water moccasin.
Vertical lines.
Oh and location is Austin's Colony in Bryan. Forgot to add that. Best part about the whole thing was proving my wife wrong. She always says we live in the city we don't get snakes. I got to paraphrase a line from Jaws 3D "Overman was killed inside the park, the baby snake was caught inside the park, it's mother is inside the park!!!" She didn't find it funny.
Prognightmare said:
YBWS?????
HS!!! I've learned so much from this thread. Thanks guys.12f Mane said:Prognightmare said:
YBWS?????
Please educate me on how you differentiated between a rat snake and a YBWS. My view is that the pattern could go for either snake, but the head shape is more like a rat snake. What tips the scale to either snake?12f Mane said:Prognightmare said:
YBWS?????
TIA
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
I don't know about the pattern as much, but I enlarged the photo and saw the yellow belly.
Head shape is a bad way to differentiate for a novice, IMO. Head shape can vary within the species depending on age, size, etc.agent-maroon said:Please educate me on how you differentiated between a rat snake and a YBWS. My view is that the pattern could go for either snake, but the head shape is more like a rat snake. What tips the scale to either snake?12f Mane said:Prognightmare said:
YBWS?????
TIA
The easiest difference between the two to me is the patterns and colors are different, scales are smooth in the ratsnake but keeled in the water snake, and water snakes will have the jaw lines.
Young ratsnake:
yellow-bellied water snake:
Thanks!
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
I was struggling a little bit with this ID as well (Ratsnake or PBWS), ultimately my own guess/ID was a water snake because the pattern was more oval than that typical rat snake pattern (square-ish). Good general rule as well?
I'd say so.
I try to leave all critters alone when they are outside. If they come inside, well, often they leave in a bag. Usually because they scared the tar outta me.
While reading 12f's excellent explanation of juvenile YBWS vs. juvenile rat snake it occurred to me that many people here may not know what keeled scales are. Basically keeled scales are ridged in the middle and have a rougher look on the snake in situ. Here's a couple visuals for y'all...
CM
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
Thanks Ace
Is there a purpose of the keel/ridge on the scale?
Grip, to hold prey and push themselves through tight gaps.
CM
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
Facebook friend posted a "what kind of snake is this" photo. A few replies later he said it was now a dead kind of snake. Turned out to be a ring-necked snake. Beautiful creature from the photos. Sad it is now dead.
Her pleasure...jpd301 said:
Is there a purpose of the keel/ridge on the scale?
Rat snake?
I say yes
12f Mane
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Sorry if I've missed this, but what do you do with everything you catch?MouthBQ98 said:
OK, I'll quit holding out on everyone and update a grab bag of recent captures. Tonight was a warm, still, humid night, and I ended up getting two juvenile copperheads, and also found a 30" rat snake and a 5" texas brown.
And now for some pics:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/KeHu9i][/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/27Nbw8b][/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/KeHuLR][/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/28Pk3KS][/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/28TDJhM][/url]
I believe he relocates them.
To the darkest depths of hell from whence they came!
Not MouthBQ, he likes snakes.
Ok ok. He relocates them to the edge of his property...
THEN HE THROWS THEM INTO THE FIERY WATERS OF DANTE'S INFERNO!!!
j/k I know he is nice to them and lets them go somewhere unharmed.
THEN HE THROWS THEM INTO THE FIERY WATERS OF DANTE'S INFERNO!!!
j/k I know he is nice to them and lets them go somewhere unharmed.
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