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What else could it have been?

Caryl

Caryl

BrightHope
I'm kicking myself for not picking this one up and bringing it home, at least long enough to get a photo.

I was coming home Saturday evening and stopped for a snake in the road. At first glance, it looked like a corn snake. That's not unusual where I live, and I generally encourage them off the roadways when I see one there.

I got out and, sure enough, it still looked like a corn. It looked, however, like a MOTLEY corn. When I touched it, its first reaction was to continue pretending to be a stick. I nudged it again, and the poor thing coiled up and hid its face. It seemed to be saying, "Eat me if you must, but I don't want to see it coming." Another prod and it headed for safety in the woods.

I assumed that this beautiful snake was most likely an escapee. If I hadn't been so tired from travelling I'd have had the sense to bring it home. Does anyone know of any other snake in the Mississippi Gulf Coast are that looks like a motley corn?
 
On occasion motley corns have been found in the wild.
Prarie kings have a similar pattern as corns, so maybe it was that.

Tim
 
The south has several indigenous varieties of Elaphe (rat), Lampropeltis (king) and Pituophis (bull and pine) snakes that have a motley like pattern. If you run across snakes on a regular basis, you might consider getting a a good herp field guide and keeping it in your glove box.
 
CAV said:
The south has several indigenous varieties of Elaphe (rat), Lampropeltis (king) and Pituophis (bull and pine) snakes that have a motley like pattern. If you run across snakes on a regular basis, you might consider getting a a good herp field guide and keeping it in your glove box.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the responses, all.

Yes, I need a better field guide. I do have a decent one, but it's not what I'd like to have. Nanci, you're right - I should've looked at the belly. Heck, I should've just brought the lovely creature home for a photo shoot! It was about 9:30 at night, and I'd been travelling since 4:00 a.m. I generally stop for snakes in the road, and when I saw this one I just thought, "What a pretty motley corn!" If I'd had more sleep, I'd now have pictures and wouldn't be playing guessing games. :cry:

This particular snake was definitely not a king. I see plenty of those around in various color patterns, and their head and neck shape are pretty easy to ID. I've occasionally seen (endangered) black pine snakes around here. I'm not familiar with bull snakes, but did a Google image search.

This snake's size, disposition, and markings all said "motley corn" to me. It even had relatively clear sides. I may have to spend some time prowling around in those woods and see if I can relocate the critter. That'll likely have to wait until after next week though - I'm a teacher and it's exam week here.
 
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