Great Plains Ratsnake (Pantherophis emoryi) - HM 159714
Observer:
Westerman, Jeremy
Observed:
2016-08-31 09:33:00
Last Modified:
2016-09-01 14:11:59
Country:
United States of America
State:
Utah
County:
Grand
Age:
Juvenile
Deceased:
no
Notes:
I initially thought it was a baby Great Plains Rat Snake but the double offset dorsal blotches on the entire body pattern seemed much more glossy snake (Arizona elegans) to me...but in Moab?? Way out of range to the North? I thought they were only in San Juan County. possible captive release? Strange dorsal pattern didn't look like any great Plains Rat Snake description or seem to match photo archives, seemingly had much more in common with young glossy snakes.found in the South East end of town
After consulting some of my colleagues with much more plains rat snake experience than me and checking the ventral scutes on DOR Painted Desert Glossys in the freezer destined for the Bean Museum collection I have changed the taxon to Pantherophis emoryi as it definitely had some scattered ventral markings and Glossys do not, having a smooth cream ventral. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the belly.
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