Caring for Texas Wildlife ... One Animal at a Time
ED ANIMAL - SNAKES
Grey-banded King snake
Texas Rat snake (Leucistic) and Emory's Rat snake
Grey-Banded King Snake Scientific Name: Lampropeltis alterna
Lifespan: 20 years
Habitat: Arid, semi-humid climates such as desert flats, canyons, and mountain areas.
Diet in the Wild: Lizards, snakes, and small rodents.
Physical Description: about 3 feet long and has beautiful array of black, grey, white and orange bands.
Social Organization: is a solitary snake that is primarily nocturnal. WARNING: WILL EAT OTHER SNAKES!!!!!
Our King Snake - Up Close and Personal
Our king snake was hatched about 12 years ago with a severe birth defect - he hatched with a severe bend in the bones of his spine about 2/3 of the way down on his body (instead of a 180 degree line, he was bent at a 140 degree angle. This made it difficult for the snake to move. The breeder didn't want him and passed him on to Gina Disteldorf to see if she could keep him alive. Over time, with proper nutrition and husbandry, the snake outgrew the spinal bend.
She does not believe the defect was genetic as you can not grow out of a genetic defect - but possibly an incubation problem with that particular egg (too wet or dry, too cold or hot). The snake is non-releasable due to prolonged captivity and a lack of a good hunting response (ability) due to captivity.
(Eastern) Texas Rat Snake (Texas Rat - Leucistic)
Scientific Name: Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri
Habitat: Swamps and marshes in the eastern part of its range to streams and valleys and rocky habitats in the western part of its range
Diet in the Wild: small mammals, birds, frogs, and lizards that they kill by constriction.
Physical Description: about 4-5 feet long and typically yellow or tan in color, may have red highlights with brown to olive green irregular blotching from head to tail. Leucistic rat snakes have no color pigment and have blue eyes. This particular leucistic rat snake has two orange scales.
Social Organization: is a solitary snake that is primarily nocturnal.
Our Texas Rat Snake - Up Close and Personal
Our snake is 6 years old, captive bred, and non-releasable due to its color. It was donated to a Biology classroom for educational purposes from a pet store going out of business.
Great Plains Snake (aka Chicken snake or Emory’s Rat snake)
Scientific Name: Elaphe guttata emory
Habitat: Grassy plains in the northern part of its range and thornscrub in the southern part of its range
Diet in the Wild: small mammals, birds, frogs, and lizards that they kill by constriction.
Physical Description: about 3-4 feet long and typically light grey or tan in color, with dark gray, brown or green-grey blotching down its back, and stripes on either side of its head which meet to form a point between its eyes.
Social Organization: is a solitary snake that is primarily nocturnal.
Our Emory's Rat Snake - Up Close and Personal
Our snake is 6 years old and has been in captivity since hatching. It was donated to a school Biology classroom for educational purposes.
