Identify this snake (Peavine Falls area)

[MobileBackpacker]

Went up to Peavine Falls the other day and saw this monster in the road. I think it is a Pine Snake but not sure. Iver read that they are found in North Alabama but prefer the coastal plain - longleaf pine habitat. It was one of the largest snakes i have seen in the wild and estimated it to be at least 4 1/2 feet, could have been over 5'

Identify this snake (Peavine Falls area)

Identify this snake (Peavine Falls area)

Here are a few of Peavine Creek and the waterfall in case nobody has ever seen it

Identify this snake (Peavine Falls area)

Identify this snake (Peavine Falls area)

Identify this snake (Peavine Falls area)

[Firedog]

Looks like a rat snake to me.

[weathermansam]

At first glance, I thought it was a gray rat snake, but it's markings are different than the rat snakes I used to see at the greenhouse I worked at years ago.  I googled pine snake, and it does look fairly similar.  I'll shoot a link to the photo to a biology/zoology grad friend of mine and see what he says.

[Uncle Wayne]

I think it's a pine snake.  Very good mouser.

[Joshua Szulecki]

I also think it is a pine snake. That would be Pituophis melanoleucus, not the other pine snake that also occurs in N. America.

http://www.chicagoherp.or.../herps/snake/Pmelanol.htm

Nice photos of the falls. I've never manage to go on a good light day.

[MobileBackpacker]

From everything i have read it sounds like the pine snake is easily confused with a grey rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides). Both tend to coil up and mock rattle and hiss when threatened, which is exactly what this snake did. It was halfway in the road and i was attempting to persuade it back on to the shoulder. I was able to take several shots without the snake moving until i nudged it with a stick and like lightning it coiled up and started hissing.

alabama outdoors says the following .... "Pine Snakes are easily distinguished from the latter (grey rat snake) by the enlarged rostral scute and the undivided anal scale" well i certainly did not attempt to check for the anal scale and have no idea what the rostral scute is. (northern pine snake) http://www.outdooralabama...t/reptiles/snakes/nps.cfm

sam.... i would be very interested in hearing back if you find anything out. According to Outdoor Alabama the species is of "high conservation concern", it would be neat if it turned out to be one.

here is another picture of the unknown snake

Identify this snake (Peavine Falls area)

 

below is a picture of a grey rat snake per the following link, very similar markings (grey rat snake) http://www.outdooralabama...tiles/snakes/ratsnake.cfm

Identify this snake (Peavine Falls area)

[MobileBackpacker]

joshua.... i know what you mean, i was there all week for a class and finally got a window. I went three other times and i either ran out of daylight or it was too contrasty. It was actually around noon when i took those shots and the skies were overcast with the sun poking out here and there. The main falls show a bit of washing out but otherwise i got lucky with the light.

[sam4msu]

Sent the pic to my son who is a herpetologist and reptile breeder.  He says Rat Snake, possibly a Grey Rat.

[Haveuseen1]

It is a grey rat snake.  A nice looking one, with a very clean pattern.