Snake Identification

ink625 · 09-26-14, 06:10 PM

Unfortunately, as so many people here in Eastern Kentucky tend to do, a neighbor took the kill first, ask questions later approach and killed this guy. I'm usually pretty good with identifying snakes, but this one is throwing me off a little. I can't find one that looks just like it online and I've never seen one before this. I'm kind of thinking it's just some kind of rat snake based on the pattern, but the color just isn't quite right for the rat snakes I usually see around here.

Any help identifying this snake would be greatly appreciated!

ink625 · 09-26-14, 08:18 PM

I'm not sure how I missed this when I was searching, but I'm pretty sure it's an Eastern Hognose snake. Anyone agree?

FWK · 09-26-14, 08:26 PM

Looks like a young Northern Pine to me, you happen to get a close up of the head? As damaged as it may be lol.

ink625 · 09-26-14, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FWK

Looks like a young Northern Pine to me, you happen to get a close up of the head? As damaged as it may be lol.

Unfortunately, I wasn't there and this is the only photo available to me.

However, I do have a photo of another very similar, if not identical looking snake killed by a relative who lives near the person who killed the snake in the 1st photo. I've attached it below.

A lot of people are telling me Eastern Hognose, but I'm just not convinced.

**millertime89** · 09-26-14, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FWK

Looks like a young Northern Pine to me, you happen to get a close up of the head? As damaged as it may be lol.

Yup, or another species of Pitouphis (bull, pine, gopher snakes).

**EL Ziggy** · 09-26-14, 09:15 PM

Looks like pituophis to me as well. Sad to see such beautiful creatures needlessly slain

ink625 · 09-26-14, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Looks like pituophis to me as well. Sad to see such beautiful creatures needlessly slain

I agree 100%.

FWK · 09-26-14, 09:55 PM

Northern Pine is the only Pit found in Kentucky.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ink625

Unfortunately, I wasn't there and this is the only photo available to me.

However, I do have a photo of another very similar, if not identical looking snake killed by a relative who lives near the person who killed the snake in the 1st photo. I've attached it below.

A lot of people are telling me Eastern Hognose, but I'm just not convinced.

I'm pretty sure that second snake is an Eastern Hognose. Eastern Hognose are remarkably variable in pattern and color but look closely at the overall build and particularly shape of the head. The jawline screams Hognose. You think you could upload both shots to photobucket and link them? It's free and they should be much larger and clearer that way.

ink625 · 09-26-14, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FWK

Northern Pine is the only Pit found in Kentucky.

I'm pretty sure that second snake is an Eastern Hognose. Eastern Hognose are remarkably variable in pattern and color but look closely at the overall build and particularly shape of the head. The jawline screams Hognose. You think you could upload both shots to photobucket and link them? It's free and they should be much larger and clearer that way.

I wouldn't mind to but when I try to post the links I get the following message:

"Post denied. New posts are limited by number of URLs it may contain and checked if it doesn't contain forbidden words."

FWK · 09-26-14, 10:41 PM

Oh the forum has a minimum number of posts before you can post a link, I think it is five. Make one more post and see if it works then. If nothing else you can PM me the link and I will post it.

poison123 · 09-27-14, 10:20 AM

Water snake.

poison123 · 09-27-14, 10:27 AM

It does not have the raised snout. It's not a hognose.

poison123 · 09-27-14, 10:36 AM

Maybe a Broad Banded Water Snake

FWK · 09-27-14, 11:27 AM

The specialized upturned scale is present in both animals although the tip is cut off on the second snake by the edge of the photo. Honestly looking back at the first picture I feel a bit foolish for thinking it was a Pine. I let what seemed to be obvious, the pattern this is strikingly similar to a Pine, blind me to the fact the neck is all wrong and the head made no sense at all. I just dismissed the head thinking it had been crushed. I blame the beer I was drinking lol.

I'm pretty sure only Diamondback and Northern Water Snakes are found in east Kentucky, Banded Water Snakes are found only in the extreme south-west tip.

toddnbecka · 09-27-14, 03:44 PM

Where were the snakes killed? Water snakes seldom move far from water, and usually dive in for cover when approached or disturbed.