What kind of snake is this? Middle Tennessee (2 Viewers)

[JDV]

Which species of snake is this? At first, I thought a variation of a corn snake, but then thought some type of rat snake.

 

[mummymonkey]

Is a corn snake not a kind of rat snake?

 

[RJP]

Gray Rat Snake (Pantherophis spiloides). Yes, a Corn Snake is a member of the Rat Snake genus as well, but they have limited range in TN. There is contention in the herpetological community about Rat Snake taxonomy in the U.S., so different people are playing by different rules, and some would contest this Gray Rat ID.

 

[JDV]

I realized that after I posted it. What I meant was is it a corn snake, or a gray “rat snake”, black “rat snake” etc. it looks like a type of typical rat snake, but the head pattern reminded me of a corn snake, minus the typical orange and black colors. I don’t know how big this snake was, so I’m not sure if it’s an immature.

 

[RJP]

Black Rat Snake is a species name from the older taxonomy (which some people want to keep). The snake looks like an adult to me - for one thing, juv gray rats are typically lighter/brighter in color.