In the USA and in different areas all over the world, many frequent and profitable species fall into the rat snake household. They’re additionally extremely popular with reptile keepers because of their engaging colours and functionality to thrive in captivity. As a result of they’re pretty frequent in lots of elements of the world, Rat snakes could not garner a lot consideration. Nonetheless, there may be one rat snake species in my assortment that all the time attracts consideration and captures the curiosity of my company.
The Trans-Pecos rat snake (Bogertophis subocularis) is a singular and engaging species certainly, with their distinctive and engaging coloration, docile nature, pink tongues and huge, inquisitive eyes. After I ask buddies and company which of the snake species in my assortment is their favourite, the Trans-Pecos rat snakes usually get plenty of votes. I suppose you can say, “The ‘eyes’ have it.”
Trans-Pecos rat snake. Photograph by David Powell
The non-venomous Trans-Pecos rat snake lives in a desert surroundings thought of too harsh for a lot of different animals. This colubrid species is native to west Texas and elements of New Mexico within the U.S, and their vary extends far into Mexico and the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, and Nuevo Leon. The world west of the Pecos River in Texas is called the Trans-Pecos area from which this species will get its frequent title, and this species has additionally been referred to as the Davis Mountain rat snake.
The Trans-Pecos area occurs to be a part of the biggest desert in North America referred to as the Chihuahuan desert. This space is without doubt one of the most biologically numerous on the planet because of the variety of crops and animals that may be discovered there and nowhere else. I’ve made quite a few journeys to this area, and many individuals inquire why I’d need to trip in west Texas. Along with the quite a few snake species that may be came upon there, the desert completely comes alive at night time with many types of life. The night time skies are luminous with stars and planets, and one may even see galaxies on the market with the bare eye. The surroundings, ample reptilian life and spectacular sunsets are perfect for this born and raised Texas boy who can also be a photographer. I really feel at peace and one with nature on the market. It’s a ‘Win, win and win’ for me.
Trans Pecos Rat Snake Pure Historical past
The Trans-Pecos rat snake was first documented in 1901 by herpetologist Arthur Brown. Brown was the superintendant of the Philadelphia Zoological Gardens, which was the primary zoo in America (Brown, 1901). He was additionally the primary to doc the Gray-banded king snake (Lampropeltis alterna), then referred to as the Davis Mountain king snake. The Trans-Pecos rat snake is a species whose scientific title comes from a singular row of subocular scales round their very giant eyes which have developed to permit them to hunt at night time by starlight or moonlight within the desert. This distinctive head construction and further giant eyes give this snake a really tame look that many individuals describe as “cute” or “googly.”
A neonate. Photograph by Russell Rozell
Whereas it’s true that different snakes have developed to outlive in harsh, desert environments, the Trans-Pecos rat snake’s giant, extraordinarily delicate eyes give them a particular searching benefit at night time within the desert. This distinctive adaptation makes them a bit totally different for different desert snake species. For instance, there are numerous rattlesnake species that use heat-sensing pits and venom supply techniques to help them in searching warm-blooded prey within the desert darkness, however the Trans-Pecos rat snake hunts fairly successfully with out the good thing about both of these evolutionary instruments.
Subocularis, or suboc for brief, is one in every of solely two species within the Bogertophis genus. The opposite species is the Baja California Rat snake (Bogertophis rosaliae), which is one other desert species that lives on the Baja peninsula in far southern California and Baja California, Mexico. Subocularis was beforehand a member of the Coluber and Elaphe genera earlier than being assigned to the Bogertophis genus in 1988.
It’s attention-grabbing that the Trans-Pecos rat snake has resided in three totally different genera in lower than 100 years, however most individuals would agree that this snake is decidedly totally different from most different rat snakes, racers, whipsnakes and coachwhips. Subocs clearly deserve their very own genus. Their present genus of Bogertophis is called in honor of American herpetologist Charles M. Bogert, who was the chairman and curator for the division of herpetology for the American Museum of Pure Historical past from 1943 to 1968.
A Trans-Pecos rat snake emerges from its shell. Photograph by David Powell
Along with the distinctive head and eye construction of this species, they’ve wonderful darkish brown and even black “H”-shaped dorsal markings that distinction nicely with their sandy or beige background coloration. The vertical bars of the “H” markings are intermingled with gentle orange, yellow or brown markings that serve to create two multi-colored stripes down the complete size of the snake’s dorsal space. This coloration helps them mix in properly with the floor of the Chihuahuan desert the place they dwell.
There are a number of further shade morphs, which embody a “blond” part from the decrease Pecos River watershed in Brewster County, Texas that has lighter coloration and fewer dorsal markings. There’s additionally a variant from the Franklin Mountains in far west Texas that shows steel-grey background coloration. The Trans-Pecos rat snake’s head is unmarked, and its abdomens are a pristine, pearly, cream shade. Many Subocularis specimens have gentle grey and even gentle blue luminescent eyes, which drastically enhances their look and attraction. To me, the suboc’s coloration and markings look very very similar to they belong within the American southwest and Mexico. They’re iconic!
A feminine with a clutch of eggs. Photograph by David Powell
This species was famously described by famous herpetologist Carl Kauffeld in one in every of his books, “Snakes: The Keeper and the Saved.” He devoted a complete chapter to them referred to as “The Seek for Subocularis” as a result of he was so fascinated with this snake (Kauffeld, 1969). If you are interested in snakes, then I extremely advocate studying Mr. Kauffeld’s work, however the books are at the moment out of print and solely used copies can be found. Curator Kauffeld additionally fairly notably amassed an entire assortment of all 32 U. S. rattlesnake species for show on the Staten Island Zoo the place he labored from 1936 to 1963. That’s a powerful accomplishment certainly! Right here’s what he wrote concerning the Trans-Pecos rat snake:
“Little doubt aesthetic appreciation of snakes is the results of lengthy conditioning, but lots of my non-herpetological buddies agree with me and appear to grasp my enthusiasm for this creature. Maybe they’re solely being sort, humoring my eccentricity, however to me, insignificant as this particular person snake is amongst myriad animal types, infinitesimal as all of us are within the universe as an entire, it represents magnificence and perfection-‘normal by loving palms,’ as one would say a murals.” (Reprinted with permission) These are inspiring phrases from an inspiring herpetologist.
An albino neonate. Photograph by David Powell
Trans-Pecos rat snakes are medium to giant snakes, averaging between 36 and 54 inches (90-137 cm), with the report being 66 inches (167.6 cm) (Powell, Conant, Collins, 2016). They’re strictly nocturnal and may solely be discovered at night time underneath correct situations at sure occasions of the 12 months inside their vary. Nonetheless, based mostly on my expertise in west Texas, these snakes are nonetheless pretty frequent within the wild. Like different rat snakes, Subocularis are constrictors and prey totally on rodents as adults, together with pocket mice (Perognathus), cactus mice (Peromyscus), and kangaroo rats (Dipodomys), however they may also eat birds and lizards. Neonates and juvenile subocs are recognized to eat lizards. Recognized predators of Trans-Pecos Rat snakes embody raptors, roadrunners, different snakes, skunks, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, badgers, and bears (Ernst and Ernst, 2003). Many of those snakes are additionally killed on the roads by automobiles.
Subocs are apparently the one recognized host for a species of ticks referred to as Robertsicus elaphensis (previously Aponomma elaphensis). These ticks connect themselves to the snakes’ tail whereas they’re in hibernacula and are chargeable for a few of these snakes dropping their tails within the wild. Apparently these parasites don’t trigger the snakes rather more hurt than tail loss and/or scarring. It’s now believed that the ticks select this host as a result of daylight harms the ticks and disrupts their life cycle, and in contrast to many different potential hosts, subocs nearly by no means enterprise out into the daylight.
Hidden away for the day, a Trans-Pecos rat snake underneath a rock ledge. Photograph by Rusty Dodson
Most of what we find out about Subocularis’ copy is derived from captive snakes. They mature at round 3 to 4 years of age, however some authorities cite the scale of the snake as a extra vital variable than age. Extra particularly, they specify that the grownup snakes must be no less than 40 inches (101.6 cm) in size earlier than they’ll reproduce. As a result of they’re a desert species, the brumation interval is shorter and fewer excessive temperature-wise than different species in additional temperate climates.
They breed in mid-to late June via mid-July, which is later within the season than many different species. Subocs additionally lay their eggs later within the season than different species, in the course of the late August to early September timeframe. Which means after a 6 to eight week incubation interval, the eggs could not hatch till November (Rhoads, 2008). Like many different facets of this species, these breeding parameters are very distinctive.
Subocs are fairly docile and do nicely in captivity, which has contributed drastically to their reputation with reptile keepers. They’re extraordinarily tame and calm when dealt with and lots of have nice personalities, if one can name it that. Even the wild subocs I’ve dealt with haven’t tried to chew me and appear to treat people as merely an annoyance. My feminine is all the time accessible to be dealt with after I strategy her cage. Retaining Trans-Pecos at snakes is one in every of my boyhood goals that has come true as a result of this species was well-known to me and particular whereas I used to be rising up in Texas. As a result of they are often finicky eaters when captive, I’d not advocate this snake species for inexperienced persons, though they’re docile and never in any other case troublesome to maintain. These snakes are an excellent alternative for a average to severe reptile hobbyist.
Regardless of their doubtlessly choosy consuming habits, I’ve, via trial and error, discovered a method to encourage my subocs to eat usually. Each my female and male choose hairless frozen/thawed rats. My feminine will routinely refuse comparable rodent choices with hair on them, and she or he even refuses hairless mice! My male will take each hairless rats and mice and typically eat a fuzzy rat as nicely.
I do must say that there are many different suboc homeowners who don’t have these sorts of feeding points, however a few of us do. Whereas some reptile keepers could discover these nuances of feeding to be a bit of doubtful, others will utterly relate to the issues of getting sure species or particular person snakes to eat usually. I’m together with these particulars right here to encourage folks to strive various things to maintain their animals thriving and wholesome, and there are a variety of the way to try this.
The very first query I’ll ask anybody who asks me a few snake that isn’t consuming is, “What temperature are you holding it?” I preserve this desert species at a bit of greater daytime temp than I preserve my different colubrids. I accomplish this by utilizing a barely bigger underneath tank heater than these for my different snakes. I’m holding my subocs at 80 to 85 levels Fahrenheit (26.7 to 29.4 levels Celsius.) in the course of the day, and attempt to keep about 40 to 50% relative humidity. Apart from holding them a bit of hotter and dryer, there may be little or no distinction in the way in which I preserve my subocs versus my different rat and king snakes.
Photograph by Matt Jeppson
Establishing an enclosure for one in every of these snakes shouldn’t be troublesome so long as one considers their pure habitat. I take advantage of 50 to 80 gallon glass, reptile enclosures with a fitted prime and an underneath tank warmth pad on a thermostat on one facet of the enclosure. Typically talking, the underneath tank warmth pad ought to cowl about 1/3 of the bottom of the enclosure for many colubrids, however I take advantage of nearly ½ for my subocs. Each enclosure has no less than two hides with one being a humidity field containing sphagnum moss or another absorbent materials. I’m keen on Pangea black conceal containers and use outdated cat deal with plastic containers for my humidity containers. I wrap the clear deal with containers in black or gray duct tape to offer the snake some safety and privateness. When utilizing tape in any reptile enclosure, take care that not one of the adhesive is uncovered for the snake to get caught on. I take advantage of aspen shavings as a substrate, and add tree branches, logs and rocks for stimulation and to help in creating temperature gradients throughout the enclosures.
Subocs will be vulnerable to respiratory sicknesses, so I ensure they’ve good air flow and attempt to preserve humidity a bit of decrease than my different snakes. I gentle the enclosures with incandescent lights, and the lights and heaters go off at night time through timers. The room by no means will get under about 70 levels Fahrenheit (21.1 levels Celsius) even within the winter, so temperatures will pattern towards that at night time, a lot because it does in nature.
My purpose with my snakes is to create an surroundings as near what they’d encounter within the wild as doable. Anybody who’s severe about holding and/or breeding these snakes ought to learn “The Full Suboc –A Complete Information to the Pure Historical past, Care and Breeding of the Trans-Pecos Ratsnake” by Dusty Rhoads. It is without doubt one of the most complete and full books on holding a selected snake species that I’ve ever learn.
With their light nature, placing look, and relative ease of care, it’s not stunning that subocs are so well-liked. Retaining a Trans-Pecos rat snake as a pet can open your eyes to an entire new number of rat snake. The fascinating dorsal patterns and interesting survival variations of those reptiles will definitely spark the curiosity of reptile fans and hobbyists alike. I contemplate my yearly journeys to west Texas nearly a religious journey of kinds, and the Trans-Pecos rat snakes I discover and {photograph} are an vital a part of that journey. At any time when I discover a suboc out within the desert at night time in Texas, it’s an thrilling second and turns into yet one more nice reminiscence in my life.
References
Brown, A.E. (1901). A brand new species of Coluber from west Texas. Proceedings of the Academy of Pure Sciences of Philadelphia 53(2): 492-495 + Plate XXIX.
Ernst, C., & Ernst E. (2003). Snakes of the USA and Canada. Smithsonian Books.
Kauffeld, C. (1969). Snakes: The keeper and the stored. N.Y: Doubleday and Co. (Now Penguin-Random Home).
Powell, R., Conant, R., & Collins, J. T. (2016). Peterson discipline information to reptiles and amphibians of japanese and central North America, fourth version. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Rhoads, D. (2008), The entire suboc: A complete information to the pure historical past, care, and breeding of the Trans-Pecos Rat snake. ECO Herpetological Publishing & Distribution.
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