Stats

Lifespan

15-20 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Solitary

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

North America

Movement

Climbing

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Common

About

A large, muscular constrictor common across the central and eastern US, prized by farmers for keeping rodent populations in check. When threatened it often vibrates its tail against dry leaves, mimicking a rattlesnake despite being completely harmless.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling

   A miniature snake emerges from the egg or from its mother (live-bearers), already venomous or strong-coiled in some species.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile sheds its skin, grows quickly, and hunts smaller prey than the adults.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult length and pattern.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Colubridae

Genus

Pantherophis

Species

Pantherophis obsoletus