Yellow Rat Snake / Everglades Rat Snake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: Pantherophis alleghaniensis
Found primarily in the southeastern United States, notably in Florida, extending northward into Georgia and South Carolina.
Look up Yellow Rat Snake / Everglades Rat Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: Pantherophis alleghaniensis
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Populations are generally stable, though locally threatened by habitat loss and road mortality.
Physical Description
Bright yellow to olive-yellow base coloration featuring four dark longitudinal stripes running down the length of the body. The head is relatively distinct from the neck with reddish-orange eyes and round pupils. Scales are weakly keeled.
Size & Dimensions
Estimated specimen length is around 4 feet (120 cm). Typical adult size ranges from 3.5 to 6 feet (107 to 183 cm), with maximum records approaching 7 feet.
Habitat
Inhabits a wide variety of habitats including pinelands, hardwood hammocks, cypress swamps, agricultural lands, and suburban areas, frequently climbing trees or hiding in structures.
Diet & Feeding
Preys primarily on rodents, birds, bird eggs, and bats. It is an adept climber that actively forages in trees and uses constriction to subdue its prey.
Reproduction
Oviparous species, laying clutches typically ranging from 12 to 20 eggs in early summer, usually in decaying vegetation, hollow logs, or loose soil.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Populations are generally stable, though locally threatened by habitat loss and road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Highly beneficial to humans as an effective natural controller of rodent populations around agricultural and residential areas.
Notable Features
Exhibits exceptional climbing ability, often found high up in trees or rafters, and displays a characteristic 'kinked' body posture when startled or trying to break up its outline.