# Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri The Western Rat Snake is a friendly snake that can be black, gray, or even yellow! They are great climbers and love to explore trees and bushes. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pantherophis_obsoletus_lindheimeri.jpg&width=800) Photo: The original uploader was Dawson at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pantherophis_obsoletus_lindheimeri.jpg) ## Appearance The Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri is a large, non-venomous snake typically displaying a black to dark brown body with irregular white or yellowish blotches. Its distinct pattern helps it blend seamlessly into its varied habitats, differing from many solid-colored rat snakes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Pantherophis ## Interesting facts - Sometimes called "chicken snakes" because they love to snack on chicken eggs and chicks! - They are expert egg-eaters, often swallowing entire bird eggs much larger than their head! - This amazing snake can climb straight up rough tree trunks like a pro! - When scared, it might vibrate its tail in leaves, sounding just like a rattlesnake! ## Special abilities - **Vertical Voyager:** Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri has keeled scales and strong muscles that help them expertly climb trees and structures. - **Rattler Ruse:** Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri can vibrate its tail rapidly in dry leaves, creating a rattling sound to scare away threats. - **Musky Mist:** Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri can release a foul-smelling musk when threatened, making predators think twice. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 120-210 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-2.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 6-18 - **Incubation:** 60-90 days - **Maximum Depth:** 0 m ## Diet & Feeding A powerful hunter, this snake eats rodents, birds, and eggs to stay healthy. - **Primary Foods:** mice, rats, birds, bird eggs, chicks - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — A key part of their diet, found in farms and homes. - **Hunts:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Climbs trees to snatch eggs and nestlings from nests. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Young snakes can become a meal for this powerful raptor. - **Eaten by:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — Opportunistic predators that may consume these snakes. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch a wild snake. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri? 120-210 cm ### How much does Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri weigh? 0.5-2.5 kg ### How long does Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri move? 8 km/h ### What does Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri eat? A powerful hunter, this snake eats rodents, birds, and eggs to stay healthy. ### Where is Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri usually found? Forests ### How does Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri hunt? Ambush ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elaphe-obsoleta-lindheimeri)