King Snake? Cross?

[pdomensis]

Originally Posted by FWK

it appears to be moving through your hands like a Rat Snake.

I'd love to hear more about the different ways various colubrid species move through human hands.

[sharthun]

Very interesting snake!

[FWK]

Originally Posted by pdomensis

I'd love to hear more about the different ways various colubrid species move through human hands.

If this is sarcasm it eludes me. I'm not really sure how to explain this other than to say Rat Snakes can articulate their body much more finely than Kings. A Rat Snake will move fluidly through your hands whereas a King is, relatively speaking, is more stiff. If you handle a few of each I'm sure you would understand what I'm getting at.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by FWK

If this is sarcasm it eludes me. I'm not really sure how to explain this other than to say Rat Snakes can articulate their body much more finely than Kings. A Rat Snake will move fluidly through your hands whereas a King is, relatively speaking, is more stiff. If you handle a few of each I'm sure you would understand what I'm getting at.

Rat snakes are natural climbers with prehensile tails. When they're in your hands, they will usually have their tail wrapped around something as an anchor.

Edit: I think this could be a jungle corn(Corn x king snake), but the coloration looks off. Maybe a different species of king snake, instead of a cal king.

[FWK]

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

Rat snakes are natural climbers with prehensile tails. When they're in your hands, they will usually have their tail wrapped around something as an anchor.

Exactly. Rat Snakes also have a flat belly with well defined edges that allows them to hold onto uneven surfaces, say the bark of a tree or a brick wall. Kings are very round lol.

Originally Posted by CosmicOwl

Edit: I think this could be a jungle corn(Corn x king snake), but the coloration looks off. Maybe a different species of king snake, instead of a cal king.

I had not considered a hybrid as a possibility but now that you mention it and after seeing the additional photos I'm inclined to agree.

Originally Posted by MDT

looks rat snake-ish to me, but i'm a python guy....

btw, the anal scale (or plate) is exactly what it sounds like
look down by the cloaca (where it poops). the scale that covers the cloaca (place where all the action takes place) is the anal scale/plate. it will either be a single scale or divided.

^ this, but if it is a hybrid the anal scale would probably be inconclusive... Hybrids are beyond me, I've never handled one. I do not know what features would be passed down and which would not.

[CosmicOwl]

Originally Posted by FWK

Exactly. Rat Snakes also have a flat belly with well defined edges that allows them to hold onto uneven surfaces, say the bark of a tree or a brick wall. Kings are very round lol.



I had not considered a hybrid as a possibility but now that you mention it and after seeing the additional photos I'm inclined to agree.



^ this, but if it is a hybrid the anal scale would probably be inconclusive... Hybrids are beyond me, I've never handled one. I do not know what features would be passed down and which would not.

Rat snakes are very graceful and agile climbers. Perhaps more than some purely arboreal snakes. And they're always stronger than they would appear. They're just fun snakes to handle.