Wild double take: Prairie Kingsnake and Great Plains Ratsnake
BY JENA DONNELL - AUG 19, 2024
Nearly half of Oklahoma’s snake species, including the nonvenomous prairie king snake and Great Plains rat snake, can be broadly described as “brown and blotchy.” A wild double take of these two look-alike snakes can show subtle differences in size, texture of scales, and the arrangement of scales under the tail.
Similarities: The prairie kingsnake and Great Plains ratsnake are both nonvenomous snakes that can be found across much of Oklahoma. They have round pupils and lack heat-sensing pits between the nostril and eye. Both species have a tan or brown background color and darker brown to reddish splotches on the back and sides. The bellies are checkered.
These snakes can be found in prairie and open woodland habitats and feed largely on rodents, other small mammals, eggs, and lizards. Both species constrict their prey. Though nonvenomous, the prairie kingsnake and Great Plains ratsnake can vibrate their tails in leaf litter or other vegetation if threatened, mimicking the sound a rattlesnake makes.
Differences: Though both snakes are medium-sized and relatively slender, the prairie kingsnake can be longer at maturity, with a maximum length of about 42 inches compared to the ratsnake’s maximum length of 36 inches. Prairie kingsnakes also tend to have more narrow blotches along the back. Perhaps the most noticeable differences are in the scales. The individual scales of a prairie kingsnake are smooth in texture, and the scales on the underside of the tail are not divided. The Great Plains ratsnake has slightly keeled scales, meaning they have a raised ridge running down the middle of each scale, and the scales on the underside of the tail are divided.
Fun Fact: Like other nonvenomous snakes in the genus Lampropeltis, the prairie kingsnake can kill and eat venomous snakes without experiencing the toxic effect.
If you encounter snakes like the prairie kingsnake and Great Plains ratsnake while exploring Outdoor Oklahoma, consider sharing the sighting on free nature platforms like iNaturalist. Adding a photo to your observation can allow others to help confirm the identification.
These Oklahoma look-alikes are included in the Wildlife Department’s “A Field Guide to Oklahoma’s Amphibians and Reptiles.” Tips for identification, a map of the Oklahoma range, and information about the diet and preferred habitats are provided for 135 of the species that can be found in our state. The book’s spiral binding makes it easy to flip through and make comparisons of different species when identifying animals at home or in the field. Copies are available at Go-OutdoorsOklahoma.com.
