Rick Owen (left) and Kenneth L. Krysko ( right) photos.
Scientific name: Elaphe obsoleta.
The following key will separate the three subspecies of rat snakes that are found in Florida. If you are unable to distinguish between the subspecies using the characteristics listed in the key below, you probably can do so using geographic location alone.
| 1a | White to gray with brown to dark gray blotches; Florida panhandle west to Mississippi, north through southwestern Georgia to southwestern Indiana. | Gray
rat snake, Elaphe obsoleta spiloides |
| 1b | Tan, yellow or orange with 4 dark stripes. | 2 |
| 2a | Tan, yellow,or pale orange, with 4 dark stripes; Florida peninsula (except for Everglades region), north through Georgia to coastal North Carolina. | Yellow
rat snake, Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata |
| 2b | Red, red-orange or orange, with 4 faint stripes; Everglades region. | Everglades
rat snake, Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni |
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