Eastern Rat Snake (Yellow phase)
Pantherophis quadrivittatus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: P. quadrivittatus
Coastal Southeast United States; primarily found in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. This specimen appears consistent with those found in the Florida peninsula.
Look up Eastern Rat Snake (Yellow phase) in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pantherophis, Species: P. quadrivittatus
Conservation
Least Concern; widely distributed and common throughout its range, though habitat loss is a localized threat.
Physical Description
Yellow to tan base color with four distinctive dark longitudinal stripes running down the body. The head is relatively distinct from the neck, eyes have round pupils, and the dorsal scales are weakly keeled.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the image appears to be a sub-adult or adult. Typical adult length ranges from 3 to 6 feet (91-183 cm), with the record exceeding 7 feet.
Habitat
Highly adaptable; found in pinelands, hardwood hammocks, swamps, and agricultural areas. Frequently dwells in suburban backyards and near human dwellings as an adept climber.
Diet & Feeding
Constrictor; feeds primarily on rodents (rats, mice), birds, and eggs. They are active foragers that frequently climb trees or rafters to hunt.
Reproduction
Oviparous; females lay clutches of 5 to 27 eggs in early summer, typically in rotting logs or leaf litter. Hatchlings emerge in late summer.
Look-alikes
Could be confused with the Garter Snake (Thamnophis), which also has stripes, but Garter snakes are much smaller and have different head shapes. Also resembles other Pantherophis species in different color phases.
Conservation Status
Least Concern; widely distributed and common throughout its range, though habitat loss is a localized threat.
Cultural Significance
Value highly by farmers and homeowners as 'pest control' due to their diet of crop-damaging rodents.
Notable Features
Famous for their 'kinked' posture when resting and their incredible climbing ability; they can scale vertical brick walls and tree trunks using their specialized belly scales.