Genus: Pantherophis

Scales: Weakly Keeled

Anal Plate: Divided

Great Plains Rat Snakes are found throughout Central to West Texas and along the Eastern side of the Texas Panhandle. They can grow up to three feet in length, with the largest specimen ever recorded at five feet. Great Plains Rat Snakes prey on rodents, birds, lizards and bats. Often found on bridges at night, presumably looking for drain holes on the top of bridges that allows access to nesting Cliff Swallows on the underside of bridges. Named in honor of General William Hemsley Emory. This species used a subspecies of the Corn Snake (Pantherophis g. guttata) but is now is considered its own species.

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