Can you identify this snake?

[ozone]

Hello,

Last month while we were driving to the Tikal ruins in Guatemala, we came across this snake on the side of the road. Is there enough detail in this photo to make an identification?

http://chrisdg.smugmug.com/photos/165429823-L.jpg

Thank you!

[drec91]

i really couldnt say but looks like some sort of rat snake.

[Herpkid101x]

it looks kinda like a king snake but drec could be right too and that blue thing in the bottom right corner looks like a gum wrapper

[Aaron_S]

First thing that came to my mind was a tiger rat snake. I could be very wrong as I don't know their locality. I COULD go check online but I'm lazy. Anyways that's my guess.

[ozone]

Thanks for the replies folks. Drec, it appears you were in the correct family. :)

I am being told that this specifically is a Guatemalan Tiger Rat Snake. Based upon what I've now read and seen (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://jaguar.ir.miami.edu/~tdavis/tiger3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://jaguar.ir.miami.edu/~tdavis/tiger.html&h=300&w=504&sz=80&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=qEqrkXryBJd-vM:&tbnh=77&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtiger%2Brat%2Bsnake%26svnum%3D10%26um %3D1%26hl%3Den), I would have to agree.

edit: Aaron - you are exactly correct. Beat me to the reply. :)

[Aaron_S]

Score I was right :D

[The Snake Guru]

What a beautiful Spilotes example. Nice shot.
~B~

[Aaron_S]

Our local zoo has a pair. They are pretty neat to watch. I wish they kept the Mangrove at the zoo :( The cobra sucks.

[bassteck76]

It is a Guatemalan Tiger Rat, Spilotes pullatus species.

Nice looking one too, I would guess male by the thin body....out looking for a girlfriend.....LOL

[reptiven]

that's an Spilotes pullatus pullatus

[drec91]

yea couldnt narrow it down but it looked like a rat snake