Great Plains Rat Snake (Elaphe emoryi)

 

Synonyms: Pantherophis emoryi, Scotophis emoryi, Elaphe guttata emoryi, Elaphe guttata meahllmorum, Emory's Rat Snake, Southwestern Rat Snake (in part), Chicken Snake

 

 

Elaphe emoryi inhabits the Great Plains of the United States (from Colorado and Missouri south to Texas), and northern Mexico. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata). Many authorities place this species, along with other rat snakes, in genus Pantherophis, which is not recognized by the Integrated Taxonomic Information System. The Southwestern Rat Snake, E. g. meahllmorum (images _), is considered a junior synonym of Elaphe emoryi.

The Great Plains Rat Snake occurs in open grasslands, rocky hillsides, canyons, lightly wooded areas, and man-modified habitats. These snakes are mostly terrestrial and nocturnal. Elaphe emoryi feeds mainly on rodents, but also birds, other snakes, lizards and frogs.

 

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