Snake Identification

[Cheddarfires]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so I thought here would be the best place.

I live in North Carolina and found a snake in my driveway and was wondering if somebody could help me identify it. It is around 2 feet long with a slender body. It has a white belly that has some black spots on it and the top of the snake is black with silver colored pattern on it that I can't really describe.

Thanks for the help.

[CamHanna]

Buh... Dum... We might need a little more than that. Slender and black makes me think racer (coluber constrictor ssp), but it could also be a rat snake (pantherophis obsoleta ssp), a king snake (lampropeltus getula ssp), a watersnake (nerodia ssp) or any number of other things. Was the white belly unmarked? Could you try to describe the dorsal pattern?

[Cheddarfires]

The white belly had some black spots that ran down the length of it that looked like they were an extension of the dorsal pattern. The dorsal was black with silver bands that fattened at the base of the snake.

I am pretty sure it isn't a water snake because we are not near water and was think it could be a baby copperhead, but I have never heard of a black copperhead before.

[Cheddarfires]

I live in the piedmaont triad area if that helps any.

[CamHanna]

I would recomend a google search to ID your snake. I've never heard of a black copperhead either; baby cottonmouths are dark but normally have a yellow/creamish tail (as do baby copperheads). The only other two venomous snakes in the US are rattlesnakes and coral snakes. Copperheads, Cottonmouths and Rattlesnake are all rather heavy bodied and I can't see any one calling them slender (something to remember when distinguishing a water snake from a cottonmouth, though it's always safer to play-it-safe).

Cam

[Removed_2815]

Sounds like it could be a juvenile Black Rat Snake. Have a look here (http://www.bio.davidson.edu/projects/herpcons/herps_of_NC/snakes/elaobs1.jpg).
Cheers,
Ryan

[Cheddarfires]

Well, the snake is currently dead and is in a jar. I will try to post a picture of it tomorrow. I might take it to the local science center and see what they have to say. I was curious because my dog was bitten by a copperhead a few years back in the area. If it was a baby I assumed there would be more and wanted to know just in case. I had already tried a google search and found a site that all of the NC snake species on it with a search capability by description, but was unable to find anything similar to this one. I will let you know what I find out.

Thanks for the help anyway.

[Cheddarfires]

RMB, I don't think that is it because the dorsal pattern is quite a bit different than that. There are no spots on the side like that. The discoloration is all connected and extends down to the belly.

[Vanan]

First thought was a black rat to me too.

[Syco]

Here's a link to North Carolina snakes. Maybe you can ID your snake by looking through the snakes native to your area.

http://www.herpsofnc.org/herps_of_NC/snakes/snakes.html

By the way, why is the snake dead? Was it found dead? :(

[BWSmith]

My guess is also Black Rat. Defiantely not a Copperhead.

[jjaj02]

Maybe its someones escaped anery corn. HEHE. Ya never know :)