Snake Id Help Needed

[E Green]

Not positive about this one. I thought it was a timber rattler so I stayed quite still until it raced away. Unfortunately, I was never able to see any of the head or the tail which were both hidden under brush and a pile of leaves and weeds I had pulled when doing yardwork the night before.

I had been standing in that spot for a few minutes watching pileated woodpeckers and a group of crowes going through a territorial dispute in a tree right in front of me which was very entertaining. Then I heard something which sounded like crunching leaves and brush by my feet so I looked down and saw what you see in the picture. I was only able to get that one terrible picture before it was gone.

[lee G.]

It looks like the right pattern for a timber rattler.

[E Green]

yep that is what I thought then and still think now...spent quite some time looking at pics in the MO herp/reptiles/amphib. guides and online photos from ozark snakes. nothing I have seen gives me 100%confirmation and I continue to think the timber rattler is my best guess. I never heard a rattle though, which I know is very common but it was also very hot that day and the pic was taken around 2:00 in the afternoon. Timber's are almost exclusively nocturnal in such conditions. Very odd timing and circumstances so i thought maybe it was some other speices that I havn't come across yet....

thanks for your time and opinon...

[fishinwrench]

Well if you thought it was a rattler you were being rather careless with that right foot.

Is it just me, or does something about that snake look very relaxed (dead)?

I guess it's possible that you were that close and he didn't know it, but...

[E Green]

it wasn't dead but if you look at the upper right portion you can see something white and it looks like the skin was torn up or scarred. I have no idea....this one has had me puzzled since day 1. maybe it was tore up by a hawk or owll or something. wish i knew

[Feathers and Fins]

I would bet against timber rattler. No Dorsal stripe common to them, and the scale pattern appears off. Snake also appears to be in shed which isnt helping.

Possible suspects are.

Great Plains Kingsnake

Prairie Kingsnake

possibly a Pygmy Rattler

looks like a young snake and if that is the case it could be a neonate timber. But no possible way to tell from the picture for certain.

[E Green]

lee G. what about this one. I see these somewhat often and am pretty sure it is a prairie ringneck or MS ringneck snake but the lack of a colorful underside and no dots along the underbody had me baffled. Almost every other ringneck I have found has the coloration and spots. This one was solid black besides the obvious ring around the neck. Does anyone find both prairie and MS ringnecks where they live? Can you tell which one this is?

[E Green]

thanks. I wish I had better pics....all 3 that you said are on my list of snakes I havn't seen yet. I have seen pics of the prairie kingsnake..those are very cool would love to see on in the wild. I find quite a few speckled kings here at my home, otter slough, mingo, sam baker and elephant rocks state park. that is probably the 4th most common snake I have seen here in MO behind #1 water moc's, #2 black ratsnake, #3 prairie ringneck or whatever it is I am asking abotu above...haha....

[Feathers and Fins]

lee G. what about this one. I see these somewhat often and am pretty sure it is a prairie ringneck or MS ringneck snake but the lack of a colorful underside and no dots along the underbody had me baffled. Almost every other ringneck I have found has the coloration and spots. This one was solid black besides the obvious ring around the neck. Does anyone find both prairie and MS ringnecks where they live? Can you tell which one this is?

Cute little ringer. Could be melanistic. still cute though.

[E Green]

yeah those snakes are awesome...never would have thought about what you said might be the reason for lack of spots and color..thanks for the help.

i have a few more I am not sure about...will post when I have time...thanks guys