''Pantherophis ramspotti'', commonly known as the western fox snake, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

rat snake Rat snakes are members – along with kingsnakes, milk snakes, vine snakes and indigo snakes – of the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. They are medium to large constrictors and are found throughout much of the Northern Hemisph ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Colubridae Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from la, coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch. Colubrid snakes are found on ever ...

. The species is native to the upper

midwestern United States The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...

, west of the

Mississippi river The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

. It is

nonvenomous Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

Etymology

The

specific name Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...

, ''ramspotti'', is in honor of the late aspiring herpetologist Joseph Ramspott.

Species status

Prior to 2011, when ''P. ramspotti'' was proposed as a new species, it was thought to be the same species as '' P. vulpinus'', and ''P. vulpinus'' was sometimes called the western fox snake. A 2011 paper by Crother,

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

Savage Savage may refer to: Places Antarctica * Savage Glacier, Ellsworth Land * Savage Nunatak, Marie Byrd Land * Savage Ridge, Victoria Land United States * Savage, Maryland, an unincorporated community * Savage, Minnesota, a city * Savage, Mi ...

, Eckstut,

Graham Graham and Graeme may refer to: People * Graham (given name), an English-language given name * Graham (surname), an English-language surname * Graeme (surname), an English-language surname * Graham (musician) (born 1979), Burmese singer * Clan G ...

and Gardner proposed that the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it f ...

be established as the species boundary between two species of fox snakes, and that those found to its east be considered ''P. vulpinus'' (including those previously known as '' P. gloydi'' ) and those found to its west be given the new name ''P. ramspotti''. This proposed that ''P. vulpinus'', which had been known as the western fox snake, become known as the eastern fox snake, and the new ''P. ramspotti'' become known as the western fox snake.

Geographic range

''P. ramspotti'' is found in the upper Midwestern United States, west of the Mississippi River. The range of the closely related ''

Pantherophis vulpinus ''Pantherophis vulpinus'', commonly known as the foxsnake or the eastern fox snake, Crother BI (editor) (2008). ''Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico''. Society for the Study of A ...

'' is east of the Mississippi River. The two species overlap along the eastern side of the Mississippi River, but there is no intergrade zone.

Habitat

''P. ramspotti'' is found in a variety of

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

s, both natural and disturbed. Preferred natural habitats include

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

shrubland Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity. It m ...

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...

, and freshwater

wetlands A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...

. Disturbed habitats include pastures, old fields, and other farmland.

Diet

Fox snakes are constrictors and primarily feed on mice and other small rodents. They may also consume young rabbits, frogs, and eggs.

Behavior

''P. ramspotti'' is fairly bold and will travel in close proximity to other animals and humans if undisturbed. When confronted, it "rattles" its tail to imitate a rattlesnake and to attempt to deter the perceived threat. It will also go into an "S" position and snap rapidly in succession. These are all defensive maneuvers in an effort to escape.

Reproduction

''P. ramspotti'' is

oviparous Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), and ...

. Eggs are laid in humus in old stumps and under logs.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q3362475 Reptiles described in 2011 Reptiles of the United States Snakes of North America Pantherophis Endemic reptiles of the United States