Red Ratsnake

We were delighted to see this little red ratsnake warming up on the new trail surface last week. We can now happily add this critter to our list of species present in the Back Woods. Local University of Florida herpetology expert Monica McGarrity has been gracious enough to write a guest post for us on the red ratsnake. Definitely, do not miss reading the excellent guide Dealing with Snakes in Florida’s Residential Areas: Identifying Commonly Encountered Snakes co written by Monica and linked below as well.

Note, there has been a recent change in the taxonomic classification of the red ratsnake…you may find many publications still refer to it as Elaphe guttata.

Guest Blogger: Monica E. McGarrity, Biological Scientist : Gulf Coast Research & Education Center/University of Florida/IFAS

Like the name suggests, Red Ratsnakes belong to the ratsnake genus Pantherophis—their scientific name is Pantherophis guttatus. Florida’s farmers have historically welcomed these non-venomous snakes to their farms, because they provide outstanding rodent control. In fact, Red Ratsnakes are more commonly called Cornsnakes because they liked to hang around in the rafters of old corn storage “cribs” and eat the mice and rats that tried to get into (and eat) the corn. All ratsnakes are excellent climbers—they can climb nearly straight up a tree or a brick wall! Their bodies aren’t quite round like the bodies of most snakes, but are shaped more like a loaf of bread in cross-section. The wide scales on their flat bellies work a lot like the treads on a tank, helping them to grip bark and climb trees more easily. These efficient predators can be found virtually anywhere there is rodent prey afoot—in citrus groves, sheds, garages, and even attics! Although you should welcome these natural exterminators in your yard, you may want to snake-proof the vents on your roof and control rodents in your attic or garage unless you don’t mind having them in your house as well.

Cornsnakes are beautiful animals, and are very popular in the pet trade because they can be bred in a various hues of red, yellow, orange, pink, or even cream. In nature, their tan to grayish bodies are marked with orange-red blotches with dark outlines. Their heads are marked with a distinctive orange-red arrowhead, with a series of light and dark blotches inside. The markings on the belly are most distinctive of all—a black and white checkerboard pattern! You may encounter these snakes crossing trails or sunning themselves on logs or trees in natural areas, so you should learn to recognize these Florida natives.  

 

Dealing with Snakes in Florida’s Residential Areas: Identifying Commonly Encountered Snakes -- http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw258

Florida Museum of Natural History Herpetology Department – Red Cornsnake -- http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-guide/pantherophisguttatus.htm

Thank you Monica!!!

Nifty etymology note: “Pantherophis is derived from the Greek words"pan" which means bread, referring to the bread loaf, cross-section shape of the snake, "thero" means a wild beast of summer and "ophis" means snake and guttatus is derived from the Latin word gutta which means "dappled" or "spotted" referring to the dorsal pattern.” courtesy Virginia Herpetological Society

Pleasant Surprise

Retrieving a trash can lid tossed in the woods during the recent blow; I came across this little guy quite comfortable underneath. A first wild find for me, this is a pine woods snake Rhadinaea flavilata. Found in moist pinelands and hardwood wetlands (this one was in the wet Flatwoods near the sinkhole), they are common in central Florida. Smaller more isolated populations of this reptile, impacted by habitat destruction, are in imperiled status in other states. Although listed as non venomous, they are actually rear fanged and have what one site termed “slightly venomous saliva”. They are egg layers and the adults reach about 10-13 inches in length like the one pictured here. One more “made my day” moment courtesy the Back Woods.

More Gopher Goodness

Couple more shots from my guests from the EPC.

Looks like hatchling size to me but, seems a little out place in that much of the literature indicates breeding season starting around April with up to a 100 day gestation. So, we’ll assume he is probably last years brood going on 6-9 months old. Our resident ecologist Celina has them on her radar now. Won’t be long and I am sure she’ll be giving us a full rundown as soon she comes across one!

MOSI’s Newest Team Member

While touring with some guests from the EPC through the Back Woods this morning, we came upon (and nearly stepped on) on this super coo inducing little cutie. There might not be anything cuter in a sandhill than an itty bitty orange gopher tortoise baby. And, along with the news that a staff member relocated another the same size from the parking lots earlier in the week; I would say we have good evidence there is a reproducing population of gopher tortoise using the sandhills in the Back Woods! Yay!

And to put that size in a little better perspective…

Snapping Turtle Tease

Man am I a sucker for critters. There is not a one out there I cannot be induced to coo over (well except maybe Huntsman spiders). Here is my latest coo.

This little snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) was making his or her way out of the stormwater retention to the wetland this morning. This is the time of year we might see aquatic turtles moving in and out of wetland areas to find mates.

It may be a little early (but it seems like a lot of things are happening early this year) but this animal may have been moving out of the wetland looking for a nesting area to lay eggs.

A note on the photo quality. Sadly, my (personal) Nikon Coolpix 4500 has suffered some sort of malfunction. Borrowing a later generation coolpix from the museum exhibits department has been disappointing. Of course the question is…is it the user or the equipment…I’ll definitely take part of the blame in needing to get up to speed with a new camera but, the lens on this later model does not produce the color and clarity of my old 4500, sigh.

Sandhill Show N Tell

Today, I was treated to a multitude of six-lined racerunners (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus sexlineatus) scurrying about in the sandhill. Every step I took sent zippy little teeids scurrying in every direction (they are supposedly capable of running up to 18mph). Amazingly, one allowed me to get close enough to snap a couple of photos.

One of our western sandhill residents... gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)...I call him Fred.

A little ceraunus blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) butterfly atop narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia).

Florida harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex badius)... I love how they usually adorn the perimeter of the mound with charcoal.